At least 33 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region

Wednesday April 22, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), working with international partners, says it has killed more than 33 al-Shabab militants in a coordinated series of operations in the Guulane area of Middle Shabelle region.

In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said the initial strike hit a house where senior members and fighters were gathered, killing 15 militants. NISA said the site was destroyed and had served as an important location for assembling personnel and planning attacks.

Subsequent operations in the same area pursued other fighters who were in hiding, killing more than 18 more, according to the agency. Security forces also destroyed a vehicle that was allegedly being used by the group.

NISA said the action followed intelligence showing that about 90 militants had assembled in Guulane, prompting what it described as an urgent move to disrupt the group’s operations and reduce its capabilities.

The agency called on members of the public to pass along information about al-Shabab or Islamic State-linked groups through the security hotlines designated for such reports.

Al-Shabab, which is aligned with al-Qaida, has been fighting a prolonged insurgency against Somalia’s federal government and remains capable of mounting attacks despite sustained military pressure.