Mogadishu, Somalia – May 31: Several top leaders of the militant group Al-Shabaab were killed in overnight airstrikes carried out by U.S. military drones in parts of southern Somalia, Somali security officials have confirmed.
The strikes targeted areas in Lower Shabelle and Middle Juba regions, including the districts of Sablaale, Haaway, and Kunya Barrow. The operation was conducted using intelligence provided by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), with close coordination between the Somali government and its international partners, particularly the United States.
Among those killed in the airstrikes were Hussein Fiidow, the head of Al-Shabaab’s political affairs; Abdicaziz Abu Musab, the group’s spokesperson for military operations; the group’s appointed governor for Lower Shabelle; its finance chief; and other senior commanders.
In addition to targeting leadership figures, the airstrikes destroyed an Al-Shabaab training camp, killing more than 100 fighters who were reportedly in training. Vehicles carrying explosives, allegedly intended for attacks in Mogadishu, were also destroyed in the attack.
These strikes come at a time when Somalia is ramping up its military campaign against Al-Shabaab. Officials have indicated that a new phase of large-scale operations is expected to begin soon in multiple regions to drive the group further out of its remaining strongholds.
Security sources say the success of this latest operation reflects strong cooperation between Somali forces and U.S. military and intelligence teams.
This is one of the most significant blows to Al-Shabaab’s leadership since the 2014 U.S. airstrike that killed Ahmed Abdi Godane, the group’s former leader.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade but has faced increasing pressure from Somali and allied forces in recent years.
