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| Africa Horn |
| Death Toll Rises After Al-Shabaab Attack on Aadan Yabaal, Former Mogadishu Official Says |
| 2025-04-20 |
| [ShabelleMedia] The death toll from a recent Al-Shabaab assault on the central Somali town of Aadan Yabaal has risen significantly, with a former senior official claiming that at least 200 government soldiers were killed in the fighting. Ibrahim Mahad-Alle, former deputy mayor of Mogadishu, said the attack by the militant group resulted in heavy casualties among Somali National Army (SNA) forces, including the death of a senior commander, Ismail Tuuryare, who had been leading a contingent of nearly 800 troops. “Aadan Yabaal became a flashpoint after Al-Shabaab massed forces there. The commander and his men fought bravely, but they died confronting the enemy,” Mahad-Alle told local media. He revealed that the mission initially aimed to secure control of key districts in the Galgaduud region — specifically Ceel Buur and Galhareeri — as part of a broader offensive against Al-Shabaab strongholds. However, the troops had positioned themselves in Aadan Yabaal, approximately 245 kilometres north of Mogadishu, when they came under heavy attack. The Somali federal government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the battle, despite the strategic importance of Aadan Yabaal, which has long served as a major military hub in the Middle Shabelle region. The assault marks another setback for government forces, who have been engaged in a drawn-out campaign to reclaim territory from the al-Qaeda-linked group. Related: Galgaduud: 2025-03-18 Somali army with foreign forces strike Al-Shabaab headquarters, destroys bases Galgaduud: 2025-03-15 Somali Army Destroys Al-Shabaab Base in Central Somalia Amid Crackdown Galgaduud: 2025-02-16 Somali Army and Local Forces Conduct Operation, 11 Al-Shabaab Members Killed |
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