Somali Forces Kill 27 Al-Shabaab Fighters in Jubbaland Offensive

Somali forces killed 27 Al-Shabaab fighters in Jubbaland State on April 18, 2026, according to Hiiraan.com. The operation is the latest in the multi-day SNA-Jubbaland joint offensive in the Juba regions that began April 15. The combined Jubbaland campaign has now killed at least 27 fighters in ground operations (April 18 toll) as part of the broader operation in which 54 Al-Shabaab were killed in airstrikes (April 15-16), marking significant momentum against the group in its stronghold territory in Middle and Lower Juba. The April 15-18 Jubbaland campaign represents one of the most significant operations against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia since the SNA-Jubbaland offensive in late 2023. The coordination between federal SNA forces and Jubbaland despite their political differences at the federal level demonstrates that security cooperation persists independently of the constitutional dispute.