Security officials from the Somali federal government and the Hirshabelle regional administration confirmed that Al-Shabaab launched a multi-front assault and swiftly took full control of the town.

Hirshabelle’s Minister of Security, Mohamed Kheyre, confirmed that Al-Shabaab is now in control of Aadan Yabaal.

The town had previously served as a key operational base for Somali government forces and allied local militias.

It played a significant role in ongoing military campaigns against Al-Shabaab in the Middle Shabelle region.

The exact casualty toll from the fighting remains unclear, but local residents reported fatalities and injuries during the early morning clash.

#UPDATE: Early Wednesday morning, Al-Shabaab militants launched a coordinated attacks on Adan Yabaal district from multiple directions, Somali security officials have confirmed.

The militant group has now issued a statement claiming to have “captured the strategic town and… pic.twitter.com/1A2k3aMyo9

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) April 16, 2025

Al-Shabaab, which is the Al-Qaeda affiliated group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had captured government and local militia bases in the town.

Photos circulated on social media showed Al-Shabaab fighters inside Aadan Yabaal’s police station, with images of seized weapons, military vehicles—including those donated by Somalia’s international partners—and food supplies.

What the fall of Aadan Yabaal means?

Several military officers are reportedly missing, with some believed to have fled the town.

The Somali government has not yet issued a statement regarding the missing officers.

The fall of Aadan Yabaal means the federal government now controls only three towns in the Middle Shabelle region: Jowhar, Mahaday, and Bal’ad. The rest of the region is now under Al-Shabaab control.

Additionally, government forces have reportedly withdrawn from Yasooman and Aboorey in the Hiiraan region, where heavy fighting with Al-Shabaab had occurred over the past week.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud briefly addressed the loss of Aadan Yabaal, calling it “a one-day setback” that does not define the broader fight against Al-Shabaab.

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