MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali National Army (SNA) has intensified ground and aerial operations across Hirshabelle State in recent days, particularly in the regions of Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, and Hiiraan, military officials said on Friday.
In the latest developments, army units stationed in parts of Lower Shabelle reported the seizure of two small boats allegedly used by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militant group. The boats were intercepted along the Shabelle River, where troops say militants have been using water transport to move fighters and weapons between riverbank villages.
“Al-Shabaab has increasingly turned to small boats to avoid detection as they move across riverine areas,” a senior military officer told Radio Shabelle on condition of anonymity. “These boats are not only used for logistics but also for tactical movement.”
Local residents, however, often rely on such boats for transporting food and essential goods, raising concerns about the impact of military operations on civilian life.
The Somali military, backed by international partners, has recently scaled up efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s mobility and supply routes, particularly in areas where the militants have historically maintained strongholds.
Meanwhile, international allies have ramped up airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab positions in regions recently liberated from the group, as well as those still under militant control in parts of Shabelle and Hiiraan.
The joint offensives come amid a broader national campaign declared by the federal government to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational networks in 2025.
