According to a ministry press statement issued on Thursday, the coordinated strikes killed 27 suspected Al-Shabaab fighters and wounded dozens of others. The ministry said the operation also destroyed military vehicles, weapons, ammunition stockpiles and operational positions that it alleged the armed group had been using to organize and carry out attacks.

"The strikes were conducted against confirmed militant positions following operational assessments," the Ministry of Defense said in its statement, adding that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab's command structure and operational capabilities in Lower Shabelle.

The ministry expressed appreciation to Somalia's international security partners for their continued support in counterterrorism operations, saying the cooperation has strengthened the country's campaign against the militant group. Officials did not identify the international partners involved in the operation or provide additional details on the air assets used.

A senior defense official, speaking to Lamaane News Network on condition of attribution because they were not authorized to publicly discuss operational matters beyond the official statement, said post-strike assessments were continuing to verify the extent of the damage and determine whether additional militant infrastructure had been affected.

Residents in parts of Lower Shabelle reported hearing multiple explosions over two consecutive days, although independent verification of the government's casualty figures was not immediately available. No information was released regarding civilian casualties, and the Ministry of Defense did not indicate whether any government forces were injured during the operation.

The strikes come as Somali security forces continue military operations aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab's presence across southern and central Somalia. Lower Shabelle has remained one of the group's longstanding areas of activity because of its strategic road networks and proximity to the capital, Mogadishu, making it a frequent focus of security operations.

Somalia's federal government has intensified joint operations with international partners in recent years, combining ground offensives with precision airstrikes intended to disrupt militant logistics, leadership and planning networks. Military officials have maintained that sustained pressure is necessary to reduce the group's ability to launch attacks against civilians, security forces and government institutions.

The Ministry of Defense said operations targeting Al-Shabaab commanders and fighters would continue as part of the federal government's broader campaign to counter the group's activities across Somalia. The reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.