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Al-Shabaab's Push Into Ethiopia 'Not a Fluke' - U.S. Official

Almost 500 Al-Shabaab fighters first crossed into eastern Ethiopia on July 20, 2022 clashing with Ethiopian forces along the border. U.S. assessments suggest they may have penetrated as much as 150 kilometers into Ethiopia before being stopped.

The concerted push by Al-Shabaab to expand from Somalia into Ethiopia appears to have been "largely contained," according to a senior U.S. military official, Stephen Townsend. He cautioned that the terror group was likely planning more such attacks in the coming months.

According to intelligence shared by U.N. member states, Al-Shabaab currently commands between 7,000 and 12,000 fighters and is spending approximately U.S.$24 million a year - a quarter of its budget - on weapons, explosives and increasingly, on drones.

"Al-Shabaab got bigger, bolder, stronger," Townsend said. "So now we've got to blunt the initiative that they've enjoyed for 15 months or more.

Ethiopia: U.S. Warns Al-Shabaab Attack On Ethiopia 'Not a Fluke'

VOA, 28 July 2022

A concerted push by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab to expand from Somalia into Ethiopia appears to have been "largely contained," according to a senior U.S. military official, though he… Read more »
Ethiopia: 800 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed in Recent Clashes - Military

VOA, 6 August 2022

Ethiopia's military says security forces killed more than 800 fighters from the Somali militant group al-Shabab after Shabab fighters launched a rare cross-border attack. Read more »
Ethiopia: Over 800 Al-Shabaab's Militants Killed Including 24 Top Leaders

ENA, 5 August 2022

More than 800 militants of the terrorist al-Shabab group have been killed, including twenty-four leaders of the group, following the measure taken by security forces, according to… Read more »
Ethiopia: More Than 8,000 Civilians Displaced in Bale Zone After Recent Clashes in Areas Bordering Oromia, Somali Regions

Addis Standard, 4 August 2022

Some 8,759 civilians were displaced following recent clashes on the border between Oromia and Somali regional state, according to new report. The displaced civilians were residents… Read more »
Somalia: Ethiopian Authorities to Create Buffer Zone Inside Somalia

VOA, 29 July 2022

A local Somali official has welcomed a plan by Ethiopia's Somali state to create a buffer zone along the border inside Somalia to fight militant group al-Shabab. The plan was… Read more »
Somalia: At Least 10 Killed in Al-Shabab Attack of Town On Somalia-Ethiopia Border

VOA, 29 July 2022

At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others injured Friday when al-Shabab extremists attacked a town that sits on the Somali side of the border with Ethiopia, according… Read more »
Ethiopia: Ethiopia Says Over 209 Al-Shabab Fighters Killed After Failed Incursion

Shabelle, 28 July 2022

The Ethiopian government on Wednesday disclosed that more than 209 al-Shabab fighters have been killed after a failed incursion from neighboring Somalia by the militant group. Read more »
Somalia: Allied Forces Attack Al-Shabaab Bases in Jubaland

Shabelle, 28 July 2022

Units of the Somali military along with Jubaland regional troops carried out an operation against Al-Shabaab in the Lower Juba region as part of an ongoing offensive. Read more »
Ethiopia: Govt Says Military Action Against Al-Shabaab Continued 'Accompanied By Victory'

Addis Standard, 28 July 2022

The federal government communication service released a brief statement yesterday about the state of Al-Shabaab's incursion into Ethiopia and said that government forces have… Read more »

InFocus

Suicide Bombings In Somalia Kill Mayor, 18 Others

Somali officials have confirmed that the two explosions that occurred on July 27, 2022 in the Lower Shabelle region, killed at least 18 people, including the mayor of Merca, Abdullahi Ali Axmed Wafowof, who was well known for fighting Al-Shabaab in the region, alongside AU troops for many years.

A security official in the region told VOA telephonically that the bombings took place near the Merca administration headquarters and was aimed at the mayor. Merca is a port city
Read more »
- Somalia: Bombings Kill At Least 18 People, Including Mayor of Regional Capital
- Somalia: Al-Shabaab Claims Marka Attack That Left a DC, 10 Others Dead
Reports of Al-Shabaab Raid on AU Military Base In Somalia

Local officials and security sources have said that Al-Shabaab fighters stormed an African Union military base in the village of El-Baraf in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region on May 3, 2022.

The Mayor of El-Baraf, Abdullahi Haji Muhumed, said the militants started their attack with two suicide truck bombs, followed by them entering the base.

The incident marked the first major Al-Shabaab attack on AU forces since the mission changed its name and operational
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- Somalia: At Least 30 Burundian AU Soldiers Killed in Al-Shabaab Attack, Official Says
- Somalia: Al-Shabaab Raids African Union Military Base
Al-Shabaab Increases Attacks As Elections Drag in Somalia

Al-Shabaab mounted one of its deadliest attacks last week, targeting elections at the regional presidential palace in Beledweyne town. Forty-eight people were killed and more than 100 others were wounded.

Among the dead was firebrand woman member of parliament, Amina Mohamed, who was on the campaign trail when she was targeted and killed by a suicide bomber.

Hours earlier,
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- Somalia: Al-Shabaab Increases Attacks As Elections Drag in Somalia
- Somalia: Al-Shabaab Attacks Army Base in Puntland