Bay Region, Somalia (SONNA) – Somali National Army (SNA) forces annihilated more than 35 Al-Shabaab militants and wounded over 60 others during a fierce battle in the Daynuunay area on Thursday.
The 60th Division of the SNA, led by Brigadier Hassan Ali Sanweyne of the 8th Brigade, repelled a major Khawarij (Al-Shabaab) assault, turning the terrorists’ attack into a devastating rout. The surviving militants fled as joint SNA and Southwest Dervish forces pursued them to prevent regrouping. The new figures mark a significant escalation from the initial report of 10 militants killed in nearby Gasarta earlier today, confirming a broader collapse of the terrorist offensive in Bay region.
“These cowards attacked, but our forces crushed them completely,” said Brigadier Sanweyne in an exclusive interview with state media. “We eliminated over 35 Khawarij, and the hunt for the rest continues.
The operation shows Somalia’s intensified ground campaign against Al-Shabaab, which has suffered heavy losses in recent months but remains active in rural areas. The SNA’s coordination with regional paramilitary units like the Southwest Derwish highlights a unified front against the insurgency.
Residents celebrated the victory, with some reporting sightings of Al-Shabaab fighters abandoning weapons and uniforms during their retreat. No civilian casualties were reported.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that clearing operations remain ongoing.
