MOGADISHU, Somalia — July 11, 2026 — Al-Shabaab militants launched separate attacks early Saturday against Ethiopian troops at Wajid Airport in Bakool region and a Somali government military base in Garbaharey, Gedo region, according to local residents and security sources. The assaults, which involved heavy exchanges of fire, underscore the group’s continued efforts to target Somali and allied military positions across southern Somalia.
According to local residents and security sources, the first attack occurred at Wajid Airport in Bakool region as a military transport aircraft was reportedly unloading supplies intended for Ethiopian forces stationed at the facility.
Witnesses said Al-Shabaab fighters launched an assault that coincided with the arrival of the aircraft, prompting exchanges of gunfire around the airport. The extent of casualties or damage has not been independently verified.
Neither Somali nor Ethiopian authorities had issued an immediate statement on the incident by the time of publication.
Hours later, Al-Shabaab launched another assault on a Somali government military base known locally as the WFP camp in Garbaharey, the administrative capital of Gedo region.
Local residents said the attack began before dawn and developed into heavy fighting, with both sides exchanging fire using various types of weapons.
Security sources said the fighting continued for some time before the situation gradually subsided. However, no independently verified casualty figures were immediately available.
The militant group has not released a detailed statement regarding either attack, while Somali government officials had not publicly commented on the incidents at the time of publication.
Residents in both Wajid and Garbaharey reported heightened security following the attacks.
Authorities have not announced whether military operations are underway in response, and access to the affected areas remains limited, making independent verification of battlefield claims difficult.
Wajid district in Bakool region has long been one of the areas where Ethiopian forces and Somali government troops have maintained positions against Al-Shabaab. The district has experienced repeated militant attacks targeting military bases, supply routes and logistical operations over the past several years.
Al-Shabaab has frequently attempted to disrupt military resupply missions in Bakool, particularly those involving Ethiopian forces operating alongside Somali security forces and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Garbaharey, the capital of Gedo region, has also witnessed recurring attacks by Al-Shabaab despite remaining under government control. Militants have previously carried out assaults on military installations, launched mortar attacks, and clashed with government forces on the outskirts of the town.
The Gedo region occupies a strategic position near Somalia’s borders with Kenya and Ethiopia, making it an important area for security operations against Al-Shabaab. Government forces, supported by regional and international partners, have continued efforts to contain the group’s activities, while the militants have sought to maintain pressure through raids on military positions.
The latest attacks come as Al-Shabaab continues to demonstrate its ability to conduct coordinated operations against security installations in multiple regions, even as Somali authorities sustain military campaigns aimed at weakening the group’s operational capabilities.
The attacks illustrate Al-Shabaab’s continued focus on military targets and logistical infrastructure supporting Somali and allied forces. Striking a location during the reported arrival of military supplies suggests an effort to disrupt resupply operations that are essential for maintaining security deployments in contested areas.
The nearly simultaneous incidents in Bakool and Gedo also demonstrate the group’s ability to conduct operations across multiple regions within a short period, potentially stretching the resources of security forces responding to separate threats.
Although the full impact of the attacks remains unclear, continued assaults on military installations can affect security operations, troop movements and stabilization efforts in southern Somalia. The incidents are likely to reinforce security measures around military bases, airports and supply routes as authorities assess the situation.