Overnight between March 1st and 2nd, 2025 44 alleged Al-Shabaab militants were killed in the Biyo Adde area of the Middle Shabelle region, in an airstrike carried out by international forces in collaboration with the Somalia federal government. The strike was confirmed in a statement released by the Somalia Ministry of Information.

A statement put out by the Somalia Ministry of Information reported that Somali federal forces had carried out “heavy airstrikes” in collaboration with international forces, which hit the Biyo Adde area of the Middle Shabelle region, killing “leaders and militia members of the Al-Shabaab”. The statement also mentioned that the airstrikes led to the death of 44 members of Al-Shabaab. Hiiran Online News stated that the strikes were “said to have taken place last night and this morning“ and that the militants killed had been “on the run on various occasions”.  They also reported that “up to three combat vehicles” belonging to militants were destroyed in the air strikes.

According to Mehr news agency, Somalia‘s national television had reported that more than 40 Al-Shabaab militants had been killed in the strikes. As this seems to be a paraphrase of the “44 members” issued by another part of the Somalia government, a range of 44-44 is applied. The source also stated that the Somali army confirmed the strikes had been conducted “with the assistance of international partners.”

Hiiraanweyn News reported that the strikes in the Biyo Adde area followed “heavy fighting” that took place in the previous day between government forces and Al-Shabaab militants in the same area. Images released by Baidoa online, allegedly originally published by Al-Shabaab, showed the control of the area by the militants following the withdrawal of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATIMS) troops from the region.

Multiple local, national and social media sources quoted the official press releases while reporting on the strikes.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to airstrikes and “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement but could also refer to Turkish involvement or United Arab Emirates involvement.