ISTANBUL

The Somali army, backed by Ugandan troops from the African Union mission (AUSSOM) and other foreign partners, launched a new operation named “Operation Rolling Thunder” in southern Somalia to target strongholds of the al-Shabaab terror group, a Defense Ministry statement said Sunday.

The ministry said the forces are focusing on dismantling key al-Shabaab positions in the Lower Shabelle region and disrupting the al-Qaeda-linked group’s access to the routes used for terrorist activities.

It said the operation aims to weaken al-Shabaab’s operational capacity, remove remaining fighters plotting attacks, and safeguard civilians along with key agricultural and production areas.

The ministry vowed that Operation Rolling Thunder will continue until the terrorist group is “fully eradicated as a threat to peace, progress, and state-building in Somalia.”

Al-Shabaab has been engaged in an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians.

Since last July, the Somali army, with the support of the AUSSOM and other international partners, has stepped up operations against the group.

The AUSSOM’s mandate was renewed for another year by the UN Security Council in December, with a UK-backed resolution extending its authorization until Dec. 31.