MOGADISHU – Somali intelligence forces, backed by international partners, have killed 11 Al-Shabaab militants, including a senior commander, in a series of operations over the past three days across the regions of Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, and Galgaduud, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Saturday.
According to a statement from NISA, the operations also destroyed military vehicles and equipment belonging to the Al-Qaeda-linked group, which has been waging a deadly insurgency against the Somali government for more than a decade.
The first operation took place on August 12 in the Tardo area of Hiiraan region, where a gathering of Al-Shabaab leaders and operatives was targeted. Seven militants were killed, and the meeting site was completely destroyed, NISA said.
A second operation on August 13 in Daarunimca, Middle Shabelle, disrupted what authorities said was a planned Al-Shabaab attack on Somali forces. Four militants were killed, including senior commander Abdullahi Ganey, who had been active in the group since 2009.
In the third operation on August 14, security forces destroyed a vehicle loaded with military supplies in Nooleeye, Galgaduud.
The vehicle was allegedly en route to supply militants preparing attacks near the town of Ceeldheer. NISA said the entire vehicle and its contents were burned, thwarting the planned offensive.
“These operations are part of ongoing efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab’s operational capacity and prevent future attacks on civilians and government institutions,” NISA said.
The Somali federal government has repeatedly vowed not to relent in its campaign to eliminate Al-Shabaab, which continues to carry out bombings, assassinations, and armed assaults across the country.
