Somalia airstrikes kill 35 al-Shabaab militants in Godey caves raid
Synopsis
In a single week, Somali forces and their international partners have killed over 90 al-Shabaab militants across multiple strikes in southern and central Somalia. The Godey operation's secondary explosions revealed a significant hidden arsenal — suggesting the militant group had been pre-positioning supplies for major attacks, and that this offensive may have disrupted a larger plot.
Key Takeaways
The Somali National Army and international partners killed 35 al-Shabaab militants in airstrikes in the Godey area of southern Somalia on 30 June .
20 additional militants were injured; the strikes destroyed caves, weapons caches, and hideouts.
Large secondary explosions confirmed the presence of hidden stockpiles and vehicles loaded with explosives.
On the preceding Saturday , a separate operation in Middle Shabelle killed 30 militants and destroyed two vehicles.
Earlier in June , joint forces killed 29 militants including a senior commander in Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.
Somalia's Ministry of Defence formally credited international partners for the operations' success.
The Somali National Army, backed by international security partners, conducted a series of airstrikes on Tuesday, 30 June in the Godey area of southern Somalia, killing 35 al-Shabaab militants and injuring 20 others, according to Somalia's Ministry of Defence. The strikes specifically targeted the militant group's network of caves, weapons caches, and hideouts.
What the Strikes Hit
According to the ministry's statement issued from Mogadishu, the initial strikes set off a series of large secondary explosions at the scene — a clear indication of hidden weapons stockpiles, explosive materials, and enemy military supplies buried at the site. 'The site was also occupied by militants and vehicles loaded with explosives that had been prepared for use in terrorist attacks against Somalia,' the ministry said.
The targeted locations were described as actively used by al-Shabaab to store vital military supplies and coordinate future attacks. No comment was issued by al-Shabaab on the operation.
A Pattern of Intensifying Strikes
The Godey operation is part of a broader escalation in counterterrorism activity across southern and central Somalia. Just three days earlier, on Saturday, the Somali National Army and its international partners killed 30 al-Shabaab militants during a joint operation in the Middle Shabelle region, also destroying two vehicles along with weapons, ammunition, and logistical supplies.
Earlier in June, a separate joint operation in the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions resulted in the deaths of 29 militants, including a senior commander. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed that 23 militants were killed near Masjid Ali Gudud in Middle Shabelle, while five militants and a commander were eliminated at Buq Aqable in the Hiran region.
Role of International Partners
The Ministry of Defence specifically acknowledged the contribution of international partners in a formal statement: 'The Ministry of Defence extends its appreciation to the international partners supporting Somalia's counterterrorism efforts, whose continued assistance has played a significant role in the success of these operations.'
The military operations on Tuesday and Wednesday also targeted al-Shabaab mobilisation centres and training facilities, indicating a shift toward disrupting the group's operational infrastructure rather than just its frontline fighters.
What Comes Next
The string of operations — with over 90 militants killed across multiple strikes in June 2025 alone — signals a sustained offensive tempo that Somalia's forces are unlikely to ease. Analysts note that secondary explosions of the scale described suggest al-Shabaab had been consolidating supplies in the Godey area, possibly in anticipation of a major attack. Whether the group can reconstitute its logistics network in southern Somalia under this pressure will be the key question in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Possibly for a large-scale attack. Three major operations in a single month, with a cumulative toll exceeding 90 militants, indicates this is not routine attrition but a deliberate, intelligence-led offensive surge. The open acknowledgment of international partners points to continued Western and regional involvement that rarely gets named publicly. The real measure of success will not be the body count but whether al-Shabaab's logistics network in Godey and Middle Shabelle has been genuinely disrupted or merely displaced.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Somali army airstrike on 30 June 2025?
The Somali National Army, supported by international partners, carried out airstrikes in the Godey area of southern Somalia on 30 June, killing 35 al-Shabaab militants and injuring 20 others. The strikes destroyed caves, weapons caches, and vehicles loaded with explosives, triggering large secondary explosions.
Where is the Godey area targeted in the Somalia strikes?
Godey is located in the Shabelle Dhexe (Middle Shabelle) zone of southern Somalia, a region that has seen repeated counterterrorism operations in June 2025. It is one of several areas where al-Shabaab has maintained logistical infrastructure.
How many al-Shabaab militants have been killed in Somalia in June 2025?
According to the Somali Ministry of Defence and NISA, more than 90 al-Shabaab militants were killed across multiple operations in June 2025 alone, spanning the Godey area, Middle Shabelle, and the Hiran region.
Who are the international partners supporting Somalia's counterterrorism operations?
The Somali Ministry of Defence has not publicly named specific international partners in these operations, but acknowledged their role formally. Somalia's counterterrorism efforts have historically been supported by the African Union, the United States, and other allied nations.
Did al-Shabaab respond to the Godey airstrikes?
Al-Shabaab did not issue any comment on the 30 June airstrikes, according to reports. The group has historically denied or downplayed casualty figures from Somali and allied military operations.
