The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in collaboration with international partners, conducted an operation on Saturday in parts of the Middle Shabelle region under the administration of HirShabelle.
The operation, which targeted members of the Al-Shabaab group in the Fidow area, resulted in the elimination of up to seven individuals, including senior leaders.
In a press release issued by the Somali government, it was confirmed that the operation was a planned and coordinated effort between NISA and its international allies.
“Seven conspirators from the Khawarij were killed in a planned operation by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) with the help of international friends in the area of Fidow, under the Mahaday district of the Middle Shabelle region.” The statement read in part.
The press release further provided the names and roles of three leaders among those neutralized in the operation. Abdirahman Dheere, who was responsible for staging ambush attacks in the Middle Shabelle region, was among the eliminated individuals.
Colonel Muad, a member of the same unit involved in attacks in the Middle Shabelle region, also met a similar fate. Additionally, Chief Abdirisaaq Musa Khalif, the deputy chief of extortion and a key figure in the group’s activities in Sakawad, was among those eliminated in the operation.
While the operation has already eliminated several individuals, reports indicate that it is still ongoing, with intensified activity observed in the dense jungle area of Mahaday.
Middle Shabelle has been a region where important progress has been made in countering the influence of Al-Shabaab, particularly during the first phase of operations conducted in the administrative areas of HirShabelle.
Al-Shabaab is a militant group operating primarily in Somalia, with a history dating back to the early 2000s.
Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous attacks targeting civilians, government institutions, and African Union peacekeeping forces. Al-Shabaab seeks to establish an Islamic state in Somalia, governed by its interpretation of Sharia law.
It has exploited political instability, poverty, and lack of centralized governance to expand its influence.
Al-Shabaab’s tactics include suicide bombings, assassinations, and guerrilla warfare. They have conducted attacks not only within Somalia but also in neighbouring countries like Kenya and Uganda.
The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by various international entities, including the United States, the United Nations, and the African Union.
