ALBAWABA- The Somali Ministry of Defense has announced the killing of 19 al-Shabaab militants during a joint counterterrorism operation in the Baqooqaha area, approximately 13 kilometers west of Buulo Xaaji in the Lower Juba region.
According to a statement published on the ministry’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the operation was conducted by the Danab Commandos of the Somali National Army (SNA), in collaboration with Jubaland’s Darawish forces and international security partners.
The ministry described the operation as a targeted strike against al-Shabaab fighters entrenched in one of their known strongholds. The offensive is part of a wider effort by Somali federal and regional forces to dismantle the group's presence across the country’s southern regions.
The operation also comes against the backdrop of rising tensions tied to the Somali Youth separatist movement, whose demands for greater autonomy in the southern territories, including parts of Jubaland, are complicating the federal government’s campaign against militant groups.
While distinct from al-Shabaab, the growing activity of separatist-leaning armed factions threatens to further destabilize already volatile areas and could undermine long-term efforts to secure national cohesion.
