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Following intense fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab terrorists, the key town of Adan Yabal in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region has fallen back into terrorists’ hands.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Al-Shabaab is an Islamist terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaida that has waged a brutal insurgency for over 15 years to topple the Somali government and establish a strict form of Sharia law. Operating across large swaths of central and southern Somalia, the group exerts de facto control over rural territories and has embedded itself deeply within clan structures and local economies. Al-Shabaab has carried out numerous atrocities, including mass civilian killings, public executions, suicide bombings, and forced child recruitment. The group routinely targets government institutions, military outposts, civilian infrastructure, and has attempted multiple high-profile assassinations, including attacks on Somali presidents—most recently in March 2024, when a roadside bombing aimed at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s motorcade killed multiple bystanders.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Al-Shabaab terrorists recaptured Adan Yabal following a surprise attack before dawn that began with suicide car bombings and was followed by a ground assault from multiple directions. The attack overwhelmed Somali National Army (SNA) troops and allied local militias, who, after hours of fierce fighting, were forced to retreat. Local media outlets reported that fighters entered the town with no resistance after government forces pulled out, leaving behind weapons, equipment, and a critical military post.

Adan Yabal had served as a central base of operations and supply coordination for the Somali military since it was retaken from Al-Shabaab in late 2022, and its fall is seen as a significant setback in the government’s ongoing counterinsurgency campaign. The loss not only weakens logistical control in the area but also puts surrounding positions at greater risk.

The Somali government has remained largely silent in the immediate aftermath of the loss, offering no formal statement on the defeat.