Airstrikes and army strikes kill dozens of al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia

On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the government of Somalia announced that an airstrike by Somali forces and their ally, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), wiped out dozens of al-Shabaab fighters.

The airstrike carried out late on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in the Adan Yabaal district reportedly killed 12 militants, including senior al Shabaab operatives. Hours later, the Somali army took out another 35 fighters near Baidoa. The government calls it a ‘precision strike’ with no civilian casualties.

Al Shabaab, deeply rooted in Somalia’s fractured political landscape, wants to seize power and rule based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic law. The group briefly captured villages within 50 km (30 miles) of Mogadishu last month, raising fears among residents of the capital that the city could be targeted.

These airstrikes and ground offensives are tactical victories, but they don’t address the underlying issues that allow al-Shabaab to thrive. Experts claim that without a comprehensive strategy that includes governance and economic development, they are just playing whack-a-mole with terrorism. However, this operation is a significant step in the fight against terrorism.