KISMAYO (Kaab TV) – Reports from the Middle Jubba region of Jubaland indicate that a series of airstrikes targeted areas under the control of the militant group Al-Shabaab near the district of Jilib, as military pressure continues to mount against the group in southern Somalia.
According to local residents and security sources, the strikes took place in rural areas surrounding Jilib, a town widely regarded as one of Al-Shabaab’s main operational and administrative strongholds in the region.
The airstrikes were reportedly carried out through cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and international partners supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism operations through aerial surveillance and precision strikes.
Witnesses in nearby communities said loud explosions were heard during the night and early morning hours, while military aircraft were seen flying over the area shortly before the strikes occurred.
So far, Somali authorities have not released an official statement providing full details about the operation, including the number of casualties, the identities of those targeted, or whether civilians were affected.
There has also been no independent confirmation regarding the extent of the damage caused by the strikes.
Jilib has for years remained one of Al-Shabaab’s most important strongholds in southern Somalia, serving as a center for the group’s leadership meetings, training camps, financial operations, and military planning.
Because of its strategic importance, the area has repeatedly been targeted by both Somali government offensives and airstrikes conducted with support from international allies, including the United States and other security partners involved in counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa.
Security analysts say Al-Shabaab continues to use remote rural areas in Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba as safe havens to coordinate attacks against Somali government forces, African Union troops, and civilian targets in cities such as Mogadishu and Kismayo.
The latest airstrikes come amid intensified military operations launched by Somali government forces and allied clan militias across central and southern Somalia in an effort to weaken the group’s territorial control and operational capabilities.
Over the past two years, the Somali government has increased cooperation with international partners in conducting intelligence-based airstrikes aimed at eliminating senior Al-Shabaab commanders, disrupting supply routes, and destroying militant hideouts.
Despite ongoing offensives, Al-Shabaab remains capable of carrying out deadly bombings, assassinations, and guerrilla-style attacks across several parts of the country.
Human rights organizations and local community leaders have previously raised concerns over the risk of civilian casualties during aerial operations in densely populated or rural areas, urging authorities to ensure transparency and accountability following military strikes.
The Somali government has consistently defended the operations, saying they are necessary to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s network and improve security in regions long affected by insurgency and instability.
Further details regarding the latest strikes are expected as investigations and damage assessments continue in the affected areas.