Galgaduud (KAAB TV) – Security forces in Eldheer District, part of the Galgaduud region under the Galmudug State administration, have successfully repelled an attack by Al-Shabaab militants, according to local security sources and regional officials.
The confrontation occurred after Al-Shabaab fighters launched a coordinated assault on several areas within Eldheer District, including Ali Yabal, Ubad, and Hirsi Ilmi. These locations, situated in the coastal zone of Eldheer, have seen sporadic militant activity in recent months as Al-Shabaab attempts to regain influence in central Somalia.
According to local reports, the joint security forces — comprising the Galmudug regional Dervish forces, community defense units, and elements of the Somali National Army (SNA) — engaged the militants in a series of clashes that lasted several hours.
Abdul Qadir Ali Bugle, a senior officer from the Mawisleyda (community defense) unit, told reporters that the Al-Shabaab attackers suffered significant casualties during the confrontation.
“Our forces inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, forcing them to retreat,” he said. “We returned safely to our bases after ensuring that the threat was neutralized. The purpose of our operation was to prevent Al-Shabaab from reorganizing or establishing new bases in the area.”
Security operations in the Galmudug region have intensified in recent weeks as part of a broader federal and regional campaign aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab’s network across central Somalia.
The operations are being conducted collaboratively by the Somali National Army, the Galmudug Dervishes, and local community militias, with support from the federal government and regional authorities.
Analysts note that Eldheer and surrounding districts have strategic importance, linking central Somalia’s inland regions with its coastal areas.
Maintaining security in this corridor is crucial for trade, humanitarian access, and efforts to stabilize territories recently liberated from Al-Shabaab control.
Despite ongoing challenges, Galmudug officials have expressed optimism about recent gains made against the insurgents.
Local leaders have also called for increased coordination, logistical support, and sustained federal assistance to ensure that cleared areas remain secure and that governance and development programs can take hold.