The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has carried out its first reported drone strike against al-Shabab militants in northern Somalia in nearly a year, according to security officials cited by AFP.
22 October, 2026
The strike took place on Tuesday at the Galgala mountain pass in Puntland’s Al-Madow mountain range, where the al-Qaeda-linked militant group maintains a presence.
The reported attack was the first attributed to the UAE since November 2025.
Two local officials told AFP that UAE drones carried out reconnaissance missions on Monday and Tuesday after an explosive device planted by al-Shabab targeted Puntland security forces.
The drones, reportedly launched from Bosaso airport, where the UAE maintains a military base, targeted four militants who were allegedly planting roadside bombs, according to the officials. Two of them were wounded.
Puntland paramilitary forces subsequently moved into the area and killed the two wounded militants, the officials said.
They also said Puntland was expected to announce a new offensive against al-Shabab in the coming days.
Somalia has been fighting the Islamist insurgency for nearly two decades. While al-Shabab’s presence in Puntland is considerably smaller than in south-central Somalia, the group has maintained positions in the Al-Madow mountains for years.
The UAE is among several foreign countries supporting efforts against al-Shabab. However, its relationship with Somalia’s federal government has deteriorated amid disagreements over Abu Dhabi’s support for regional political actors, particularly in Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not secured broad international recognition.
The reported strike comes amid heightened political tensions in Somalia, with some regional administrations opposing the federal government’s plans for national elections in 2027.
The federal government in Mogadishu has not publicly commented on the reported UAE operation.
There is also uncertainty over the future of international logistical support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab. The United States has announced plans to end funding for a key United Nations logistics operation at the end of 2026.
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