Somali forces report heavy fighting near Burhakaba as airstrike claims denied

Multiple sources reported fierce clashes in the area, with initial accounts indicating significant losses among federal government forces. Separate reports from Leego said several senior military commanders were missing. The number of casualties and the status of the missing commanders remained unclear. Al-Shabab also released photographs purporting to show Somali military vehicles burned during the fighting. The images could not be independently verified. However, the Somali federal government rejected reports that Turkish F-16 fighter jets or armed drones struck Somali National Army positions in Leego on Oct. 26, describing the claims as false and misleading. The government said its security partnership with Türkiye remained strong and focused on fighting terrorism, strengthening national security and restoring peace. It urged the public and media organizations to avoid circulating unverified information. In a separate statement, Somalia's Defense Ministry said the Somali National Armed Forces launched an offensive against al-Shabab positions in Jameeca, in Buurhakaba district on Monday as part of Operation Banooda. The ministry said the operation involved several hours of fighting and resulted in nearly 75 al-Shabab fighters killed and 56 others wounded. The figures could not be independently verified. According to the ministry, al-Shabab fighters used vehicles packed with explosives to attack military vehicles during the clashes, damaging some of them. The statement did not provide a detailed account of government military casualties. The military said Operation Banooda would continue, with the aim of weakening al-Shabab's capabilities, destroying its positions and preventing the group from regrouping.