Somalia's National Security Office Rejects Turkish Airstrike Claims, Warns Against Unverified Reports on Leego Fighting

Somalia's Federal Government has issued a formal clarification following reports and competing claims about military confrontations in the Leego area of Lower Shabelle.

The Office of National Security said on October 27, 2026, that reports alleging Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft or armed drones accidentally struck Somali National Army (SNA) positions during the previous day's fighting were false and misleading.

The statement directly rejected claims of accidental Turkish attacks on Somali government troops and urged the public to rely on verified information.

Conflicting accounts emerge after Leego fighting

Clashes near Leego on October 26 attracted widespread coverage from Somali and international media outlets.

Some reports alleged substantial losses among Somali government troops and the destruction or capture of military equipment.

Al-Shabaab separately claimed to have killed hundreds of soldiers during the fighting.

The group's reported figure of 321 fatalities has not been independently verified.

Alongside these battlefield claims, allegations circulated that Turkish fighter aircraft had mistakenly targeted Somali government forces.

The October 27 government statement focused specifically on the alleged accidental strikes involving Turkish aircraft.

Government rejects friendly-fire allegations

Somalia's Office of National Security said neither Turkish F-16 fighter jets nor armed drones had mistakenly attacked SNA positions in Leego.

The office described the reports as misleading and rejected the suggestion that Somali troops had been accidentally targeted by Turkish aircraft.

However, the government did not release a detailed operational account of the fighting.

The statement contained no new official casualty assessment, timeline of the clashes or comprehensive information about military equipment losses.

As a result, the official denial of alleged friendly fire should be distinguished from the other unresolved claims concerning the battle.

Warning over public confidence and troop morale

The Federal Government stressed that inaccurate information about military operations could have consequences beyond the immediate news cycle.

According to the Office of National Security, unsupported claims could undermine confidence in public institutions and damage the morale of security personnel.

The government called on media organizations, social media users and the wider public to refrain from circulating unsubstantiated reports and misleading interpretations.

It emphasized the importance of accurate information during sensitive security operations.

Strategic communication in Somalia–Türkiye relations

The issue also comes against the background of broader discussions about misinformation concerning Somalia's security partnership with Türkiye.

In September 2026, Somali Information Minister Abdulfatah Qasim Mohamud proposed making strategic communication and countering disinformation an additional area of bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at a forum in Mogadishu, he argued that stronger coordination could help address misleading narratives concerning the two countries' expanding partnership.

Separately, Türkiye's Presidency Communications Directorate rejected allegations in May 2026 that Turkish military assets were being used to influence Somalia's domestic political processes.

Those earlier statements addressed separate developments, but they illustrate the importance both governments have placed on public communication concerning defence cooperation.

Transparency and accountability reaffirmed

The Office of National Security concluded its October 27 statement by reaffirming the Federal Government's commitment to transparency, accountability and protecting the Somali people.

Somalia's latest clarification rejects the specific allegation that Turkish aircraft accidentally struck Somali troops while maintaining the government's position on continued security cooperation with Ankara.

The full military circumstances of the Leego confrontations, including independently verified casualty and equipment-loss figures, remain outside the scope of the official clarification.