After Heavy Losses at Buurhakaba, Mogadishu Plans Renewed Offensive Amid Fears of Further Army Collapse

MOGADISHU (WDN) — Still reeling from a disastrous battlefield setback in which federal forces reportedly suffered heavy casualties, lost dozens of military vehicles and saw soldiers captured or scattered in retreat, Somalia’s Federal Government is preparing to renew its offensive to seize Buurhakaba. The reported decision to send reinforcements back into battle, with Turkish air power potentially providing support, has raised fears that an army already shaken by defeat could suffer further losses before the failures of the previous operation have been properly examined.

Reports indicate that reinforcements are being prepared to join the troops who survived the earlier fighting under Operation Banooda. Yet the reported decision to press ahead with a largely unchanged plan raises a critical question: what has changed since the previous assault ended so badly?

Sources close to the Presidency reportedly say President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud wants to use Turkish air power to support the renewed offensive. If confirmed, the plan would add a foreign military dimension to an operation already facing serious questions over its planning and execution. Neither the proposed use of Turkish aircraft nor the decision to resume the offensive has been independently verified.

A Demoralised Army Faces Another Test

According to information circulating about the revised operational plan, the strategy issued on October 22 remains largely unchanged, apart from a strengthening of the operation’s second command, based in Baidoa. Additional troops are reportedly expected to reinforce the remnants of the force involved in the previous assault.

The decision risks compounding the damage caused by the earlier defeat. Soldiers who have witnessed comrades killed, captured or wounded need credible leadership, reliable intelligence and confidence that lessons have been learned. Sending them back into combat without addressing the failures of the previous operation could further undermine morale and fighting effectiveness.

Some soldiers who participated in the earlier battle reportedly said their positions came under simultaneous attack from drones, four vehicle-borne explosive attacks and ground assaults. They also claimed that they received no air support during the fighting.

If confirmed, these accounts would raise serious questions about battlefield intelligence, force protection and coordination between ground units and supporting aircraft. They would also make the reported plan to rely on air power in a renewed offensive particularly significant.

Drivers Threatened as Missing Soldiers Are Sought

The reports suggest that authorities are attempting to enforce discipline following the retreat. Drivers who operated heavy vehicles during the previous assault have allegedly been threatened, while some have been accused of failing to extract the vehicles under their control.

The Armed Forces Court is reportedly warning that action will be taken against soldiers who abandon their positions during combat. Authorities are also said to be searching for personnel whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Punishment alone, however, cannot restore an army’s confidence. A credible review must establish whether the retreat resulted from individual misconduct, failures in command, inadequate preparation or overwhelming enemy attacks. The government has yet to publish independently verified findings on the circumstances of the defeat.

Turkish Air Power Could Damage Ankara’s Standing

The reported intention to use Turkish aircraft raises concerns about Ankara’s role in Somalia’s security operations and the potential consequences of becoming associated with a controversial offensive.

Somalia’s military partnership with Turkey has strategic importance, but foreign assistance risks becoming politically contentious when its deployment is linked to disputed domestic objectives. Critics of Turkish involvement in Somalia’s internal political affairs argue that military cooperation should strengthen national security rather than deepen political divisions.

The assertion that all Somalis oppose Turkish intervention cannot be established as a national consensus. Nevertheless, any Turkish air operation that causes civilian casualties, strikes the wrong targets or is perceived as supporting a political faction could further tarnish Turkey’s image among Somalis.

The reported use of Turkish air power remains unconfirmed. If Ankara is asked to support the renewed offensive, clear operational objectives, reliable target verification and safeguards against civilian harm will be essential.

The Unanswered Questions

The immediate issue is whether the Federal Government has addressed the reasons for its previous battlefield defeat. Reinforcements and air support cannot compensate for poor planning, unreliable intelligence or a breakdown in command.

The government must clarify whether Operation Banooda is being resumed, what changes have been made following the previous fighting, and whether Turkish aircraft have been authorised to participate. It must also account for missing personnel and explain how it intends to protect troops and civilians during any renewed operation.

Returning to battle without correcting the failures of the previous assault could turn a military setback into a deeper crisis of morale and confidence. If Turkish air power is added to an inadequately reassessed campaign, the consequences could extend beyond the battlefield, placing further strain on Somalia’s military credibility and Turkey’s public standing.

Reporting note: The renewed offensive, threats against drivers, alleged lack of air support during the previous battle and possible Turkish air involvement remain unverified claims and should be treated accordingly.

WardheerNews