Somalia Targets al-Shabaab with 'Operation Rolling Thunder'

(MENAFN) Somalia's national army, reinforced by Ugandan troops operating under the African Union mission (AUSSOM) and a coalition of foreign partners, has launched a sweeping new offensive dubbed "Operation Rolling Thunder" across southern Somalia, targeting entrenched strongholds of the al-Shabaab terror network, the Defense Ministry announced Sunday.

According to the ministry, the operation is zeroing in on dismantling critical al-Shabaab positions throughout the Lower Shabelle region while simultaneously severing the al-Qaeda-linked group's access to supply and movement routes long exploited for terrorist operations.

The offensive carries three core objectives: degrading al-Shabaab's overall operational capability, neutralizing remaining fighters actively planning attacks, and protecting civilian populations alongside vital agricultural and food production zones from the group's predatory reach.

Mogadishu left little ambiguity regarding its ultimate ambition, vowing that Operation Rolling Thunder will press forward until the militant organization is "fully eradicated as a threat to peace, progress, and state-building in Somalia."

Al-Shabaab has waged a relentless insurgency against the Somali government for over 16 years, carrying out repeated deadly strikes against security personnel, public officials, and civilians alike — making it one of Africa's most enduring and destructive extremist movements.

The latest offensive builds on an intensified campaign that began last July, when Somali forces — operating alongside AUSSOM and international partners — dramatically stepped up pressure against the group. Reinforcing that commitment, the UN Security Council renewed AUSSOM's mandate for an additional year in December through a UK-backed resolution, extending its authorization through December 31.

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