MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s elite DANAB commandos carried out a carefully planned operation on November 19 in Buula Madiina, a district of Afgooye in Lower Shabelle, targeting Al-Shabaab militants who have been terrorizing local communities, military officials said.
According to the officials, the operation resulted in the deaths of several high-profile insurgents, including:
- Kuusow (Zarqaawi), responsible for planning and executing attacks;
- Abdulkadir (Camey), the group’s local finance and revenue chief;
- Yaqub Yuusuf, a local leader accused of widespread extortion and violence against civilians.
Two additional Al-Shabaab members were wounded in the raid. They have been identified as Abdirashiid, involved in extorting money from residents under the guise of zakat, and Saalim, who served as a bodyguard for top commanders.
Both were taken to Daaru Salaam hospital, but reports indicate they did not receive sufficient medical attention due to the severity of their injuries.
DANAB officials said the operation demonstrates the commandos’ ongoing commitment to intensifying anti-Al-Shabaab efforts in Lower Shabelle and reaffirmed their determination to secure the safety of Somali civilians and stabilize the region.
The raid marks one of the latest in a series of targeted operations by Somalia’s elite forces against insurgents in southern regions, reflecting the government’s continued push to weaken Al-Shabaab’s hold on rural areas.
