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Battle of Mogadishu
A U.S. Army force in Mogadishu attempted to seize two of Aidid's high-echelon lieutenants during a meeting in the city. Shortly after the assault began, Somali militia and armed civilian fighters managed to shoot down two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. -
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Islamic Courts Union
ICU takes over Mogadishu after heavy fighting with warlords and it turns into an alternative to the internationally recognised transitional govt. -
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Ethiopia Intervenes
Troops from neighbouring Ethiopia intervene against the Islamic Courts and in support of the weak central government. al-Shabaab stays to fight and chaos returns to the capital Mogadishu. -
al-Shabaab and Hizbul
Beginning of a major offensive by al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam, another anti-government group, aimed at overthrowing the president. -
Double Suicide Attack
A double suicide attack on the AU force in Mogadishu, claimed by al-Shabab, kills 21, including 17 African soldiers. -
Aden Hashi Ayro Killed in Missle Strike
In 2006, Aweys handed operational command of al-Shabaab to a young Somali jihadi, Aden Hashi Ayro. Aden was killed in a U.S. missile strike in May 2008. -
Bombings in Kampala, Uganda
Al-Shabab claims responsibility for bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala that killed 76 people, after the movement warned that Uganda would face retaliation for contributing to the AU force. -
Suicide Shooting and bombing in Mogadishu
Two al-Shabab fighters disguised as government soldiers go on a shooting rampage in a Mogadishu hotel, killing at least 35 people, including eight parliamentarians, before blowing themselves up. -
al-Shabaab Withdrawals from Mogadishu
al-Shabaab abruptly vacated key bases in Mogadishu, and their spokesperson Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage stated on the groups radio station that “The retreat by our forces is only aiming to counter-attack the enemy. People will hear happy news in the coming hours. We shall fight the enemy wherever they are.” -
Kenya Launches an Offensive Opperation against al-Shabaab
Kenya launched an offensive operation against al Shabaab in Somalia codenamed “Operation Linda Nchi” (Operation Protect the Nation). What started the operation was a series of kidnappings in northern Kenya. -
Announcement of Merging with al-Qaida
The merging of the two groups was publicly announced in Feb. 2012 by the al-Shabaab amir and Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of al-Qaida. -
The Fall of Kismayo
The September 28 loss of a major stronghold in the southern Somali port city of Kismayo, but al-Shabaab has not been defeated. The fall of Kismayo may serve to strengthen more radical factions within the terrorist group that prefer to focus on regional and global jihad.
