ضربة قوية لحركة الشباب.. مقتل 50 مسلحاً في عملية مشتركة قرب مقديشو

The African Union Mission in Support of Stabilization in Somalia (AUSSOM) announced today (Sunday) the killing of more than 50 militants from the Al-Shabaab extremist group in a joint military operation with the Somali National Army in the town of Briere, southwest of the capital Mogadishu.

This operation comes as part of intensified efforts to secure the areas surrounding the capital and weaken the grip of the terrorist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, which seeks to overthrow the federal government and impose strict rule.

According to a statement issued by the African Union Mission, the operation targeted strategic positions of Al-Shabaab in the town of Briere in the Lower Shabelle region, where the joint forces executed a coordinated attack that utilized airstrikes and a ground assault supported by special forces.

The operation resulted in the destruction of military equipment and weapon caches belonging to the group, in addition to eliminating a large number of militants, with no reported losses among Somali forces or the African Union Mission in this operation, reflecting the success of planning and coordination between the two sides.

Briere is one of the areas used by Al-Shabaab as a base to launch attacks on the main roads leading to Mogadishu, threatening the security of the capital and hindering supply movements. The region has witnessed an escalation in military operations since the start of the Shabelle 2025 offensive, also known as "Ramadan Operation," where Al-Shabaab is attempting to regain areas it lost during the Somali government and African Union offensive in 2022.

This operation comes after weeks of repeated attacks by Al-Shabaab, including an assassination attempt on Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last March and a mortar attack on the Halane compound near Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. The recent operation demonstrates the commitment of the Somali government and the African Union Mission to continue applying pressure on the terrorist group.

Al-Shabaab, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, is one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa, controlling vast areas in central and southern Somalia, and regularly launching attacks against government forces and African Union troops. The group was established as a military wing of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006 and has since sought to impose strict rule and expel foreign forces from Somalia.

The African Union Mission in Support of Stabilization in Somalia (AUSSOM) was established in January 2025, succeeding the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), which began in April 2022 after the end of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). It includes forces from Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Egypt, totaling up to 11,911 personnel, and aims to support the Somali government in regaining control of territories and training Somali security forces to take full responsibility for security by the end of 2025.