Somali Forces Thwart Al-Shabab Prison Break Attempt in Mogadishu After Hours-Long Gun Battle

Image: Jihad Watch

Mogadishu, Somalia – In one of the most intense assaults on the Somali capital in recent months, government forces successfully repelled a coordinated attack by the al-Shabab militant group on Saturday. The assault targeted the high-security Godka Jilow prison complex, a heavily guarded underground facility in Mogadishu known for detaining several top members of the Islamist extremist organization.

According to Somali authorities, all seven attackers were killed following a fierce, hours-long exchange of gunfire and explosions that reverberated through the city. The incident began with a powerful car bomb detonated at the prison’s entrance, shattering the quiet of the capital and triggering a six-hour siege marked by chaos and destruction.

The Somali government described the operation as a “heroic defense” by security forces who prevented what could have been a major breakout. Although officials did not disclose the number of security personnel killed, the government expressed condolences to the families of the “fallen heroes” who lost their lives defending the facility.

The al-Shabab group, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, later claimed responsibility for the attack. In its statement, the group said the operation aimed to free “all the Muslim prisoners” held in Godka Jilow. However, Somali authorities confirmed that no inmates managed to escape during the failed attempt.

A security officer stationed at the prison recounted the initial moments of the assault, telling Reuters that the chaos erupted “after a huge blast at the cell gate, followed by an immediate exchange of gunfire.”

The brazen attack underscores the persistent threat posed by al-Shabab, which continues to target government institutions, security forces, and civilian areas despite ongoing counterterrorism operations backed by the African Union and international allies. The incident also highlights the group’s enduring capacity to organize complex, high-profile assaults in the heart of Mogadishu, even as Somalia’s government steps up efforts to restore stability across the war-torn nation.

As investigations continue, the Somali government has vowed to strengthen security across all detention facilities and intensify operations to root out the remaining militant cells operating within and around the capital.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)