Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced on Wednesday that 45 al-Shabaab militants, including a top commander responsible for repeated mortar attacks in the capital, have been killed in a series of military operations in the central and southern regions of the country.
The air and ground assaults targeted terrorist hideouts in the El-Hareeri area of Hiran and near Sabib in Lower Shabelle, where intelligence reports confirmed the presence of key militant leaders. The operations were part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign that has intensified in recent weeks.
“This marks a significant blow to the Khawarij network,” said a NISA statement, using the Somali government’s term for al-Shabaab. The agency confirmed that precision drone strikes were used to neutralize the targets.
Ahmed Mohamud, a regional security official, told local media that unmanned aerial vehicles were deployed based on intelligence gathered over several weeks. “We confirmed the presence of the militant leader responsible for mortar attacks on Mogadishu since 2023. He was eliminated near Sabib,” Mohamud said.
The slain leader was allegedly behind a string of deadly attacks on government buildings and civilian areas in the capital.
Al-Shabaab, which has waged a deadly insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for over 16 years, continues to pose a major security threat across the Horn of Africa. Despite sustained military pressure, the group retains influence in rural areas and often targets military convoys, officials, and civilians.
The Somali government, backed by local militias and international partners, has vowed to eliminate the group’s remaining strongholds and restore stability.
Authorities say the latest operations reflect enhanced coordination among security forces and improved intelligence-sharing capacity. They pledged continued offensives until al-Shabaab is fully dismantled.
“These actions send a clear message to terror leaders: Somalia will not tolerate those who destabilize the nation,” said the NISA statement.