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Reports indicate that an airstrike was conducted in the area, specifically targeting Al-Shabaab positions.

Officials from the National Army stated that the operation has advanced into several areas previously held by the militants, following heavy pressure and targeted airstrikes.

A small number of local troops is accompanying the National Army in its operations against Al-Shabaab in the region.

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The ongoing offensive is part of a broader effort to restore security around the strategically significant Masajid Ali Gadud Mosque, which was seized by the Al-Shabaab militant group just one day prior. The mosque and its surrounding areas have been a focal point of regional conflict due to their symbolic and strategic importance.

Local residents reported to Somali media outlets that they witnessed heavily armed government troops advancing toward neighboring areas still believed to be under Al-Shabaab control. Their presence signals a broader push by government forces to reclaim rural territory long held by the extremist group.

Among the areas targeted in the latest operations is the village of Tawfiq, as well as several other villages previously under Al-Shabaab occupation in the vicinity of the Ali Gadud Mosque. These actions form part of a growing campaign to break the stronghold of the insurgents in Middle Shabelle.

According to a statement released by Somalia’s Ministry of Defense, the current offensive is a continuation of the federal government’s intensified efforts to eliminate Al-Shabaab influence across the country, particularly in high-risk regions like Middle Shabelle. The Ministry emphasized that these military operations are designed not only to liberate occupied territory but also to safeguard civilian populations from militant threats.

The Federal Government of Somalia reiterated its unwavering stance against Al-Shabaab, declaring once again that the fight against terrorism will continue until every area under the group’s control has been reclaimed and returned to government authority.

This operation represents a significant moment in Somalia’s ongoing struggle to restore national security and stability, especially in regions long plagued by insurgency.

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The mass defection took place in Xawaadley, a strategic town located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.

The armed men, most of them belonging to the Jareer Weyne clan, were welcomed by Al-Shabaab fighters and reportedly handed over their weapons in exchange for cash and amnesty.

A Somali security officer based in Jowhar, who is familiar with the situation, confirmed the incident.

“Al-Shabaab contacted them and offered a deal—cash in return for their guns. The group also granted them amnesty upon surrender,” said the officer.

The surrendering fighters were reportedly part of the Afjar Brigade in Middle Shabelle.

Sources say many among the Jareer Weyne militia had been experiencing severe shortages of food and water and felt abandoned by the government forces they had been supporting.

Their disillusionment was further aggravated by long-standing grievances over marginalization and recent political tensions.

One key factor cited by the community was the death of General Sheegow Ahmed Ali, a Jareer Weyne military officer who was arrested by Hawiye clan-affiliated soldiers in Mogadishu in late 2023.

He died in government custody in April 2024, an incident that triggered widespread protests in the capital and deepened ethnic divisions within Somalia’s security forces.

The Somali Ministry of Defense has not issued a statement regarding Saturday’s surrender.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the event, announcing through its media channels that it had received government troops and clan militiamen in Xawaadley.

The group stated that it had launched a “dawra” (religious re-education seminar) for the new defectors—a process often used by the militants to indoctrinate and recruit captured fighters.

Al-Shabaab did not specify the number of people who surrendered.

Xawaadley, a town of significant strategic value along the corridor between Mogadishu and Jowhar, fell into Al-Shabaab control in early June 2025 after Burundian troops from the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) withdrew due to severe flooding.

READ: Al-Shabaab Displays Downed AU Helicopter After Capturing Village Northeast of Mogadishu

The town had previously served as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for both AU forces and Somali government troops tasked with preventing militant advances toward Mogadishu and the Hirshabelle state capital.

The fall of Xawaadley is part of a broader trend of military setbacks for the Somali government.

In recent months, Al-Shabaab has seized key towns and villages across Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Hiiraan regions.

Government forces and allied clan militias have abandoned numerous positions, with internal reports blaming widespread corruption and logistical failures for the continued losses.

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Local security officer Abdullahi Ibrahim told reporters that the looters stormed the town’s only Maternal and Child Health (MCH) center, taking medical supplies, a power generator, and an ambulance provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

A video shared by local sources shows the moment young men and women rushed into the MCH facility and emptied it, taking everything inside just shortly before Al-Shabaab fighters entered the town.

A resident later confirmed that Al-Shabaab, now in control of Xawaadley, returned the ambulance to the MCH center—but the town remains firmly under their rule.

#Somalia Update: Local residents in Xawaadley, #Middle Shabelle, looted the only MCH (Maternal and Child Health) center in the area, taking all the medicines and the facility’s power generator.
A video shows the moment people scrambled into the MCH.

Local officials also… pic.twitter.com/VP2ZGY77eY

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) June 4, 2025

Looting was also reported at the Burundian forces’ base in Xawaadley, where both residents and militants took food, fuel, and other supplies after troops vacated the site.

As Burundian forces evacuated, a AUSSOM helicopter crash-landed near Xawaadley during an emergency mission to extract personnel.

The incident came amid reports of an imminent Al-Shabaab assault on the area.

In a statement issued Tuesday, AUSSOM confirmed that the helicopter suffered a technical malfunction, but its crew managed to land safely without casualties.

“During the evacuation on Monday, one of the helicopters experienced a technical malfunction. However, despite this challenge, the pilots skilfully manoeuvred the aircraft to land safely,” read the AU mission’s statement.

Despite that, images from the crash site show Al-Shabaab militants atop the aircraft, which appears intact and undamaged by fire.

Locals said the militants looted equipment from the helicopter, and the status of the pilots remains unclear.

“Even if the pilots landed the helicopter, why did they do it here—in an area controlled by Al-Shabaab? And where are the pilots now?” asked Ibrahim Nur, a district elder who fled Xawaadley after the militant takeover.

Former Hirshabelle president Ali Abdullahi Osoble criticized explanations given for the withdrawal, particularly claims of flooding in the area.

“Xawaadley is not near the river. I don’t understand what kind of flooding is in Xawaadley,” Osoble said, suggesting the withdrawal lacked valid justification.

Security sources confirmed that Burundian troops requested emergency extraction after intelligence warned of a major Al-Shabaab offensive.

Somali forces and allied clan militias also retreated, allowing militants to advance unchallenged.

The Somali federal government has yet to issue an official response regarding the fall of Xawaadley.

However, Defense Minister Ahmed Fiqi acknowledged the ongoing operational challenges faced by Somali forces.

“The Somali government forces lack sufficient ammunition and weapons. Therefore, we request additional support from the international community to continue our fight against Al-Shabaab,” said Minister Fiqi.

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The helicopter, belonging to the Burundian contingent of AUSSOM, crash-landed during an emergency evacuation operation amid reports of an impending Al-Shabaab attack on the area in the Middle Shabelle area.

In a statement released on Tuesday, June 3, AUSSOM confirmed that the helicopter experienced a technical malfunction but was brought down safely by the pilots.

“During the evacuation on Monday, one of the helicopters experienced a technical malfunction. However, despite this challenge, the pilots skilfully manoeuvred the aircraft to land safely,” the AUSSOM statement said, adding that all troops and crew were safely evacuated to the nearest military base and that no casualties were reported.

However, photos from the scene show armed Al-Shabaab militants—affiliated with Al-Qaeda—standing atop the downed helicopter.

The aircraft, which appears largely intact and shows no signs of fire damage, suggests a controlled crash landing.

Local residents in Xawaadley told reporters that the militants seized equipment from the helicopter, and the fate of its occupants remains unclear.

“Even if the pilots landed the helicopter, why did they do it here—in an area controlled by Al-Shabaab? And where are the pilots now?” asked Ibrahim Nur, a district elder from Xawaadley who fled the village for his safety following the militant takeover.

What Happened in Xawaadley?

A Somali security official confirmed that Burundian forces stationed in Xawaadley had requested an emergency evacuation early Monday after receiving intelligence about an imminent Al-Shabaab attack.

Somali government troops and allied clan militias reportedly withdrew from the area, allowing Al-Shabaab fighters to advance and capture the village as AUSSOM troops evacuated in haste.

One of the helicopters involved in the operation crash-landed during the evacuation.

Following the militant takeover, residents and Al-Shabaab fighters reportedly looted the Burundian base, taking food supplies, fuel, equipment, and items from the crashed helicopter.

The Somali federal government has not officially commented on the incident. However, in a separate statement, Defense Minister Ahmed Fiqi acknowledged the challenges faced by government forces.

“The Somali government forces lack sufficient ammunition and weapons. Therefore, we request additional support from the international community to continue our fight against Al-Shabaab,” Minister Fiqi said.

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The village, situated in the Middle Shabelle region, is of strategic importance as it lies along the corridor between Mogadishu and Jowhar.

It had served as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as well as a key defensive position for the Somali National Army (SNA) to prevent militant advances toward the capital and the state capital of Hirshabelle.

Local residents said heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters entered the village Monday afternoon, hours after Burundian troops under AUSSOM withdrew due to rising floodwaters.

In a statement, AUSSOM confirmed the evacuation:

“Burundian troops stationed at Xawaadley Forward Operating Base, northeast of the capital, Mogadishu, have been safely evacuated due to heavy flooding in the area.”

The mission further disclosed that one of the helicopters involved in the evacuation experienced a technical malfunction but was able to land safely without incident.

“All troops and crew have been successfully evacuated to the nearest military base, and no casualties have been reported,” the statement added.

Kareem Adebayo, the Acting Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia said the Burundian soldiers were swiftly evaluated.

“We commend the swift action of the AUSSOM Burundian troops during the delicate operation and reaffirm our continued support to the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in mitigating the effects of the flooding.”

Following the troop withdrawal, Al-Shabaab militants reportedly took control of both the AU and Somali military installations in Xawaadley.

The takeover has caused panic in nearby Jowhar town — the administrative capital of Hirshabelle State — with sources telling Kaab TV that Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein has recently vacated the presidential palace in Jowhar due to security concerns and is currently in Mogadishu.

With Jowhar located just 90 kilometers from the capital, the fall of Xawaadley raises alarm over the potential disruption of civilian and commercial movement along the vital Mogadishu–Jowhar route.

Residents report that Al-Shabaab fighters have already begun setting up roadblocks and patrolling surrounding rural areas.

The post Al-Shabaab Captures Strategic Village Near Mogadishu After AU Troop Withdrawal Amid Flooding appeared first on Kaab TV.

The attack targeted a military base used by the elite Danab special forces.

According to the Ministry of Defence, government troops temporarily withdrew from the area in a tactical move, allowing for a swift counteroffensive that successfully pushed back the militants.

“After regrouping, our forces launched a decisive response and dealt a significant blow to the enemy. Wargaadhi is now firmly under the control of the Somali National Army and local partners,” said Defence Ministry spokesperson Abukar Macalim.

In a statement issued later by the Ministry of Information, officials confirmed that over 40 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed during a coordinated operation in Wargaadhi and the nearby area of Labigoley.

The government described the response as a “successful counterterrorism effort” aimed at neutralizing threats in the region.

Security officials have confirmed that the situation in Wargaadhi and surrounding areas has returned to normal, with government forces maintaining a strong presence on the ground.

Al-Shabaab, in a separate claim, said it had briefly taken control of the base, burned it down, and killed Danab soldiers.

However, those claims have not been independently verified, and the Somali government has not responded directly to the group’s statement.

Wargaadhi lies roughly 189 kilometers north of Mogadishu and has been a strategic location in the ongoing fight against the al-Qaeda-linked insurgency.

The government has pledged to continue its offensive against Al-Shabaab across the country as part of a broader national security campaign.

The post Somali Forces Secure Wargaadhi After Al-Shabaab Assault appeared first on Kaab TV.

The Burundian forces, part of the African Union Mission (AU mission), were based in Garsaale — a strategically important area for the protection of Jowhar’s airport.

Their unexpected withdrawal has reportedly taken local authorities by surprise.

Officials from Hirshabelle’s Ministry of Security told Kaab TV that they were not informed in advance about the Burundian troops’ departure.

These forces also vacated another post near the city that was vital to maintaining general security in Jowhar.

Burundi had earlier announced plans to pull its troops from Somalia, citing dissatisfaction with how troop quotas for the new AUSSOM (African Union Support Mission in Somalia) 2025 operation were allocated — an initiative that has yet to receive funding.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab militants have recently intensified their activities in parts of Middle Shabelle, seizing areas like Masaajid Cali Guduud, Al-Kowthar, and Aadan Yabaal.

The group has also disrupted transport routes between Jowhar and Mogadishu, entering Balcad district — just 30 km from Mogadishu — in late March.

The troop withdrawal has alarmed residents of Jowhar, who fear for their safety now that key defensive positions around the city are unguarded.

Jowhar serves as the administrative capital of the Hirshabelle State.

So far, Hirshabelle authorities have not announced any plan to secure the vacated positions formerly held by the Burundian forces.

The post Burundian Troops Withdraw from Key Jowhar Outposts, Raising Security Fears appeared first on Kaab TV.

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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