MOGADISHU, July 1 — Somali special forces from the elite Danab unit have killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander and eight of his guards in a planned operation in the Bariire area of Lower Shabelle region, the government said on Tuesday.
The commander, identified as Jaabir, was targeted in a raid on a hideout where he and his security detail were located, security sources confirmed.
“The Somali National Army’s Danab special forces conducted a well-planned operation in Bariire, Lower Shabelle, killing a senior extremist commander known as Jaabir and eight armed militants belonging to the group,” a brief government statement said.
Jaabir was described as the chief explosives expert for the militant group in Lower Shabelle, responsible for assembling improvised explosive devices used in attacks across the region, the federal government added.
The operation also resulted in the destruction of several Al-Shabaab bases and tunnels used for staging bombings and assaults in the area.
This marks a significant blow to the extremist group’s operational capabilities in southern Somalia. Security forces continue efforts to root out insurgents in volatile regions.
