Mogadishu: Somalia’s Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that national armed forces have regained full control of the strategic town of Awdheegle in the Lower Shabelle region from Al Shabaab militants, who are affiliated with Al Qaeda.

According to Qatar News Agency, the operation marks a key milestone in the 3rd phase of Silent Storm, a military campaign aimed at eliminating insurgent presence in southern Somalia. Ministry spokesperson Sheikh Abubakar Mohamed Hassan confirmed in a statement that the Somali army, supported by Ugandan defense forces operating under the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), successfully secured the town.

Awdheegle holds strategic significance as a vital junction connecting several major areas in southern Somalia. Its recapture is viewed as a pivotal step toward consolidating control over the Lower Shabelle region.

The Somali military has intensified its operations in recent months, targeting Al Shabaab strongholds across various parts of the country.