Somali Forces Foil Al-Shabab Assault in Middle Shabelle Region

Sunday January 18, 2026 Jowhar (HOL) — Somali government forces repelled an al-Shabab attack on military positions in the Jabad Godane area of the Middle Shabelle region early Sunday, following an explosion and hours of heavy fighting, the Defense Ministry said. In a statement, the Somali Ministry of Defense said the Somali National Army SNA, successfully foiled the assault and now has full control of the area. The attack began with an explosion, believed to be a suicide bombing, before militants attempted to overrun army bases, officials said. advertisements The ministry did not release casualty figures. Independent sources, however, residents reported significant number of militants were killed the clashes, though those accounts could not be immediately verified. “A large-scale operation is currently underway, including reconnaissance and security sweeps, to eliminate the remaining militants hiding in the area and prevent any attempt to regroup or disrupt the peace of local communities,” the Defense Ministry said. The attack came as government forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabab in parts of Middle Shabelle in recent days, particularly in areas near Warsheekh district, as part of a broader campaign to weaken the group’s presence along key supply and movement corridors. Jabad Godane lies in a region that has repeatedly seen clashes between Somali forces and al-Shabab, which continues to stage complex attacks combining explosions and ground assaults despite sustained military pressure. The Somali National Army reiterated its determination to continue operations against the group, saying the goal remains to secure liberated areas and protect civilians from further attacks. Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, has frequently targeted military bases and security installations in Middle Shabelle, a strategic region connecting Mogadishu to central Somalia and the country’s eastern coastline.