(16 Apr 2025) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – Al-Shabaab militants have retaken control of the strategic town of Aadan Yabaal in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region following a heavy assault early Wednesday, local sources confirmed.
The attack began with explosives and quickly escalated into fierce combat lasting more than five hours between government-backed local forces and Al-Shabaab fighters. Reliable sources told Halqabsi News that government forces and allied local militia withdrew from the town after intense clashes, allowing Al-Shabaab to move in.
Currently, government forces are regrouping on the outskirts of Aadan Yabaal, with reinforcements dispatched from Hiiraan region and additional troops airlifted from Mogadishu. Meanwhile, the militants also captured Aboorey village in Hiiraan today, following two weeks of intense fighting.
Aadan Yabaal, an important town retaken by government forces in December 2022 during the first phase of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s anti-Al-Shabaab campaign, has significant strategic value. The recent setbacks underscore the ongoing security challenges faced by Somali government forces in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions, despite continued military operations.
Halqabsi News
