Somali forces launch major offensive in middle Juba with U.S. Air support

Heavy fighting has been reported in the Middle Juba region of Jubbaland State between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab militants. The clashes took place in rural areas of Jamaame district, a long-time Al-Shabaab stronghold that the group has controlled for more than a decade.

According to local media reports, joint Somali government units — including the U.S.-trained Danab Special Forces, and Jubbaland regional troops — claim to have killed more than 50 Al-Shabaab fighters and captured 20 others during the operation. These figures have not been independently verified.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that it carried out airstrikes in support of Somali forces. In a statement released on Sunday, 2025, AFRICOM said that, “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab on Nov. 14–15, 2025,” noting that “the airstrikes occurred approximately 55 km northeast of Kismayo, Somalia.” AFRICOM added that it “continues to work alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Armed Forces to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad.”

The Somali Ministry of Defense has not issued details on the ground operation or the U.S. airstrikes. However, several local media outlets have reported allegations of civilian casualties. BBC Somali cited unverified accounts suggesting that as many as 12 civilians may have been killed, including nine children, though these claims remain unconfirmed. Neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor the Jubbaland administration has publicly responded to these reports.

The latest offensive comes amid a rise in U.S. air operations across Somalia. In the south, recent strikes have primarily targeted Al-Shabaab positions in the Shabelle regions and parts of central Somalia. AFRICOM has also conducted airstrikes in Puntland, where Puntland security forces are engaged in ongoing clashes with Islamic State–affiliated fighters in the remote Almiskad Mountains.

So far this year, the United States has conducted 99 airstrikes in Somalia. The number of civilian casualties linked to these operations remains unclear due to limited access to many of the affected areas.