Adan Yabaal — Al-Shabaab militants seized the strategically main town of Adan Yabaal in Somalia’s Center Shabelle space on Wednesday, launching a pre-morning time assault that overwhelmed executive forces and marked the community’s predominant territorial gain since a main Somali offensive started in mid-2022.
The assault commenced at morning time, with insurgents striking from a pair of instructions, triggering fierce clashes with Somali troops and native clan militias, security sources and eyewitnesses acknowledged. Intense gunfire persevered for hours, even though disrupted communications have obscured steady casualty counts.
Located 245 km north of Mogadishu, Adan Yabaal has been a cornerstone of Somali navy operations since its recapture from Al-Shabaab in December 2022. The town’s loss underscores the militants’ enduring skill to voice executive control.
Al-Shabaab’s media arm claimed dominance over the town and its environs, a claim yet to be independently confirmed. Two security officers verified that executive forces and allied militias withdrew beneath relentless militant stress.
The assault exposes vulnerabilities in Somalia’s counterinsurgency efforts, despite reinforce from international partners. As skirmishes continue, additional slight print remain miniature.
