Jubaland condemns Turkish airstrike in Doolow

Jubaland authorities have condemned an alleged Turkish military airstrike in Doolow District, Gedo Region, saying five people were injured in the overnight attack.

In a statement issued through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Jubaland said the strike targeted the residence of Mahad Abdirahman Adan, a former commander of the Federal Government’s Custodial Corps.

According to Jubaland, two missiles were fired during the operation, with one striking the residence of the Chairman of Doolow District.

The statement said Adan was injured alongside four civilians. Jubaland did not provide details on the extent of their injuries.

Jubaland claimed that Adan was targeted because of his political differences with Somalia’s Federal Government leadership. It described the incident as a serious escalation in a town that it said had remained largely free of major security incidents for more than a decade.

The administration accused Türkiye of carrying out the operation in support of Somalia’s Federal Government and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Jubaland further urged international organisations and partners, including the United Nations, African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, United States and European Union, to investigate Türkiye’s role in the incident.

The administration also called on the United Nations to reconsider its decision to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, arguing that weapons supplied to the country require stronger controls and accountability mechanisms.

Jubaland said the alleged airstrike could also affect Türkiye’s role in Somalia’s political dialogue, arguing that Ankara’s involvement could undermine its credibility as a potential mediator between competing political interests.

The statement comes amid continuing political tensions between Somalia’s Federal Government and Jubaland authorities.

Jubaland’s account of the incident and its characterisation of the strike as a war crime could not independently be verified from the information contained in the statement.

The administration did not provide details on the stated military objective of the operation or any response from the Turkish or Somali Federal Government authorities.