KISMAYO, (HAN) – Somali National Army’s elite Danab Commandos, in collaboration with Jubbaland Darawiish forces, carried out a joint security operation on the outskirts of Kismayo, the capital of Lower Juba region, in recent hours.
According to security officials, the operation focused on roadside mine clearance, particularly along key supply routes and access roads linking different parts of Lower Juba. The forces combed through critical stretches of road to detect and remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) believed to have been planted by Al-Shabaab militants.
Commanders leading the operation told the media that the primary objective was to prevent civilian and military casualties caused by roadside bombs. “This mission was necessary to ensure the safety of residents and travelers who frequently use these roads,” one Danab officer explained.
The operation comes in the wake of several recent deadly incidents in which landmines detonated on civilian vehicles, resulting in deaths and injuries. Local sources say that Al-Shabaab militants have repeatedly used such tactics to target both security forces and the civilian population.
For the past several months, Danab and Jubbaland Darawiish units have been conducting joint security sweeps and offensives across different districts of Lower Juba. These operations aim to secure liberated areas, disrupt militant activity, and improve the safety of major transport routes in the region.
The Somali Federal Government and Jubbaland authorities have pledged to intensify military pressure against Al-Shabaab in Lower Juba, particularly around Kismayo, a strategic coastal city and former stronghold of the militant group.
