The Somali National Army, supported by Ugandan troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners, has launched a fresh offensive against the al-Shabaab insurgent group in southern Somalia.
According to a statement issued Sunday by the Defence Ministry in Istanbul, the operation—dubbed “Operation Rolling Thunder”—is targeting key al-Shabaab strongholds in the Lower Shabelle region. The offensive seeks to dismantle strategic positions and disrupt the al-Qaeda-linked group’s access to routes used to plan and execute attacks.
The ministry said the campaign is designed to weaken the group’s operational capacity, eliminate fighters plotting assaults, and protect civilians as well as vital agricultural and production zones. Authorities pledged that the operation would continue until al-Shabaab is fully neutralised as a threat to peace, national progress and state-building efforts in Somalia.
Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, public officials and civilians. Since July last year, Somali forces—backed by AUSSOM and other foreign partners—have intensified military pressure on the group.
The mission’s mandate was renewed by the UN Security Council in December, extending its authorisation until 31 December under a UK-backed resolution.