MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Shabaab militants have captured the strategic town of Adan Yabal in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region after intense clashes with government forces and allied clan militias, marking a significant setback for the Somali army’s years-long offensive against the insurgents.
The fall of Adan Yabal deals a severe blow to the government’s military campaign, which had reclaimed multiple towns in recent years across Hiran, Middle Shabelle, and Galgadud regions. The town, a key stronghold wrested from Al-Shabaab in late 2022, had been a flagship gain in the army’s counterinsurgency efforts.
For months, the militants have been advancing toward Adan Yabal, systematically seizing surrounding villages to isolate government forces. Last week, they overran Aborey in Hiran region, forcing the army to divert resources to retake it—a tactical move that weakened defenses in Adan Yabal. Despite sustained government counterattacks in Aborey, Al-Shabaab launched a surprise dawn assault on Adan Yabal, overwhelming Somali troops.
In a further display of tactical dominance, the militants also captured the village of Mubax to block regrouping government forces and seized Yasooman, another strategic town in Hiran, consolidating their grip on key supply routes.
Images released by Al-Shabaab show its fighters parading seized weapons and food supplies abandoned by retreating Somali troops. The group’s rapid gains expose the fragility of the army’s defensive lines and raise questions about the sustainability of the government’s much-touted offensive.
Somali officials have remained silent on the losses, instead focusing on a controversial voter registration drive for a disputed one-person-one-vote election—a move critics say is an attempt to deflect attention from the military’s crumbling frontlines. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre formally registered for the polls on Wednesday, further fueling accusations of misplaced priorities.
The fall of Adan Yabal underscores the resilience of Al-Shabaab, which continues to exploit battlefield momentum despite sustained U.S. and African Union-backed operations. With the militants now controlling critical terrain, the Somali government faces mounting pressure to reassess its strategy or risk further reversals.
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