(09/11/23) MOGADISHU – In a significant development, airstrikes targeted a meeting place in Jilib, known as the de facto capital city of Al-Shabaab, on Thursday. This latest strike forms part of the ongoing efforts by the Somali federal government and its international allies to counter the militant group.
Jilib, located in the Middle Jubba region, has been a strategic stronghold and control centre for Al-Shabaab for an extended period. The targeted airstrikes were directed at a venue where high-ranking members and officers of Al-Shabaab were believed to be convening. This aggressive move marks a notable escalation in the military campaign against a group that has long been a key player in Somalia’s internal conflict.
The timing and focus of the attack indicate a deliberate strategy to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities and its leadership structure. This operation comes at a crucial time when the Somali government, bolstered by support from international partners, is actively working to reclaim territories under the group’s influence.
Details regarding the casualties and the extent of the damage inflicted by the airstrikes are still unfolding. As of now, there have been no official communications from either the Somali federal government or Al-Shabaab regarding the incident.
This incident highlights the offensive against Al-Shabaab in South and Central Somalia. The airstrike’s impact on Al-Shabaab’s stronghold in Jilib, and its implications on the wider conflict dynamics in the country, will be closely monitored.
Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group, has been a major force in the ongoing conflict in Somalia. The group, known for its insurgency against the Somali government, has faced concerted efforts from both national and international forces aimed at diminishing its influence and control in the region.
For the last six months, the Somali national army and local forces with air support from the United States and Turkish drones recaptured territory bastions in Hirshabelle and Galmudug States
Halqabsi News
