Somali Intelligence Launches Successive Raids Targeting al-Shabab Leadership Cells

Somalia says intelligence raid strikes al-Shabab leadership in Jilib; separate operation reported to kill 13 near Afgooye

MOGADISHU —Somalia’s intelligence service said Thursday its forces carried out an overnight operation in Middle Juba targeting senior al-Shabab commanders inside the militant group’s longtime stronghold of Jilib.

The National Intelligence and Security Agency, known as NISA, said the mission zeroed in on leadership elements within al-Shabab but did not disclose casualties or the extent of damage. Officials said the strike unfolded as planned and that additional details would be released following a full assessment. The claims could not be independently verified, and al-Shabab did not immediately comment.

• NISA says overnight operation hit senior targets in Jilib, Middle Juba
• Hours earlier, a joint NISA–international partners raid in Jambaluul near Afgooye reportedly killed a commander and 12 fighters
• Al-Shabab, aligned with al-Qaida, uses remote Middle Juba as a staging ground for attacks

The reported strike in Jilib — deep in Somalia’s south — underscores the enduring challenge of projecting state power into territory where al-Shabab retains influence and seeks sanctuary. Middle Juba’s difficult terrain and limited road access have long complicated operations by Somali forces and their partners, giving the insurgents space to plan attacks and move fighters.

The overnight action came only hours after a separate joint operation by NISA and international partners in Jambaluul, a village near Afgooye in the Lower Shabelle region. Authorities said that raid killed an al-Shabab commander and 12 other fighters. The government did not provide names of those targeted or evidence supporting the claims, and no independent confirmation was immediately available.

Al-Shabab, which is aligned with al-Qaida, continues to mount attacks against Somali government targets and civilians across parts of southern and central Somalia. The group has used remote areas of Middle Juba for training, logistics and command, even as Somali security forces announce periodic strikes on leadership figures and facilitation networks.

Jilib, in particular, carries strategic and symbolic weight. Operations there are closely watched for signs that Somali authorities can degrade the group’s senior cadre and disrupt planning cycles that often precede complex assaults elsewhere in the country. NISA’s statement offered no timeline for when it would release further information — including identities of those targeted — pending battlefield assessments.

Somalia’s intelligence service did not indicate whether ground forces were involved in the Middle Juba raid or whether the action relied on remote strikes. Details about potential collateral damage were also not available. In previous operations, security officials have cautioned that access to contested sites can delay verification.

Thursday’s announcements are the latest in a series of moves aimed at pressuring al-Shabab in its rural havens while seeking to blunt the group’s capacity to stage bombings and assassinations in urban centers. Analysts say the sustainability of such operations depends on follow-up measures, including securing cleared areas, bolstering local governance and reopening key roadways to civilian traffic.

Authorities urged patience as assessments continue in both Middle Juba and Lower Shabelle. The intelligence agency said it would release more information as it becomes available.

In this undated file photo, al-Shabab fighters stand in formation at an undisclosed location in Somalia. The al-Qaida-linked extremist group continues to operate across parts of southern and central Somalia, where it has carried out attacks targeting government forces and civilians.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.

Thursday December 11, 2025