MOGADISHU – In a major blow to Al-Shabaab's operational capacity, the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) announced the liberation of two strategic strongholds, Daarusalaam and Mubarak, in the Lower Shabelle region on March 11, 2026. The joint forces conducted a high-intensity offensive known as 'Operation Rolling Thunder,' which targeted facilities used by the militants as illegal courts to intimidate and oppress local populations. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the captured areas had long served as safe havens and planning hubs for explosive attacks across southern Somalia. During the operation, several command positions and weapons depots were destroyed. Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, Head of AUSSOM, commended the professionalism of the troops, noting that the victory marks a significant milestone in the Somali government's efforts to assume full security responsibility. Mopping-up operations are currently underway to pursue fleeing insurgents and secure the surrounding agricultural zones.