By Maher Ahmed - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Federal Government of Somalia announced that 18 Al-Shabaab militants were killed and 21 others wounded in an airstrike conducted on July 21, 2026, in Suullaay, Hiiraan region.
The operation, carried out jointly by the Somali National Army and undisclosed international partners, targeted locations where militants had gathered approximately 17 kilometers south of Teedaan. A combat vehicle, defensive positions, and trenches used by Al-Shabaab were destroyed during the strike, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.
This strike follows an earlier operation on July 17 in the same area, which killed 25 militants, wounded 18, and saw four militants surrender to Somali forces.
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“The repeated airstrikes in Suullaay demonstrate the strategic importance of this area in our operations against Al-Shabaab,” the Ministry said, emphasizing that future operations will continue to target militant positions while prioritizing civilian safety and national stability.
The government has not released the identities of those killed or injured. The ongoing strikes signal intensified efforts by Somali and international forces to degrade Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities in Hiiraan.