The Somali National Army (SNA) and Ma’awisley forces continue to engage fighting against the militant group of AL-Shabab in Aboorey settlement in the East of Hiiraan province.
The fighting in Aboorey enters the second week as the Somali troops are battling the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group of Al-Shabab in the settlement which lies 30 km North of Buuloburde district. Last night airstrikes and ground assaults were carried out targeting Al-shabab fighters. It is the first night that fierce fighting occurred in the settlement.
The Somali National Army (SNA), Danab Commandos, specially trained NISA soldiers and Ma’awisley forces are taking part the offensive against the militant group. The Somali Military Command encouraged the troops to advance rapidly towards areas where Al-Shabab fighters are stationed so as to bring an end to the armed clashes.
Reports say that the offensive carried out by the Somali army has met with a strong resistance from the militant group of Al-Shabab. The Somali troops who launched attacks against the militant group of Al-Shabab forced them to retreat to a village in aboorey settlement.
Reports further say that Al-Shabab fighters dug trenches and using a mosque located in one of the villages in Aboorey settlement as a shield. Somali troops blocked all roads where Al-Shabab militants are supposed to get reinforcements. It is quite hard for the Somali troops to attack areas where Al-Shabab militants set up defense positions in the settlement.
The fact is that it has become quite hard for the army to advance rapidly toward the village where Al-Shabab fighters regrouped. Al-Shabab militants target the Somali soldiers with snipers who shoot them from concealed positions. Al-Shabab militants launched relentless attacks to push back the Somali troops since last Wednesday.
The militant group came out of the defense positions but reports say that the group remained in their defense lines since Thursday. Officers of the Somali National Army (SNA) who are stationed in Aboorey settlement on Sunday asked Turkish officers who are based in the Turkish Military Base in Mogadishu (Turksom) to carry out constant airstrikes to destroy Al-Shabab militant defense positions.
The officers of the Somali army believe that Al-Shabab fighters will not remain in the defense positions if airstrikes are conducted targeting them. It is not yet clear the number of Al-Shabab fighters that are stationed in the settlement but reports estimate that they are about hundreds of fighters.
It is very difficult for the Somali army to drive out Al-Shabab militants once they dug trenches. The last time the Somali troops faced difficulties flushing out the militant group of Al-Shabab was back in September, 2023 once the militant group crossed from the West of the bank of Shabelle River in the outskirts of Mahadaay district and moved into Ciid Ciidka area in Ali Fooldheere settlement.
It is clearly remembered that it took for a couple of weeks for the Somali troops backed by Ma’awisley forces to eliminate Al-Shababab fighters who dug trenches in the area. Al-Shabab militants that are currently fighting in the settlement moved into Aboorey on the 6th of April, 2025.
The fighters crossed from Jicibow settlement using boats and passed by the Haud area of Beero-Yabaal. Al-Shabab militants were looking for a strategic route where they can get reinforcements. The group’s initial plan was to move into Yasooman settlement which is next to Aboorey.
They wanted to take control of the road linking Yasooman and Mahaas district which goes to the East of Galguduud region. The Somali military Command responding to A-Shabab’s attempts to reinforce their presence mobilized the Somali troops which attacked the militant group on last Thursday.
The Somali Military also blocked the road that connects Aboorey and Yasooman settlement so as to prevent Al-Shabab militants to move into the mountain areas surrounding Yasooman settlement. The Somali Army believed that driving out Al-Shabab militants successfully from Aboorey will not be a constraint to the operations which are aimed to flush out Al-shabab militants from the West of Hirshabelle state.
