Somalia’s NISA says 22 al-Shabaab fighters, including senior commanders, killed in Mudug and Hiran raids
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Sunday its operatives killed at least 22 al-Shabaab fighters, including several senior operational commanders, during two separate counterterrorism operations in the country’s central regions.
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NISA said the first raid struck a militant gathering in Dumaaye, in the Mudug region, where security forces killed about 15 fighters. Among those the agency identified as dead were several figures it described as senior leaders:
- Xudeyfa Galinle
- Qataatow
- Abdirahman Garwayne
- Daahir
- Abdiwali
In a second operation in the Hiran region, NISA said its units targeted houses used by militants guarding Mustafa Caato, killing seven fighters. The agency said the dead included two key figures in the group’s financial network:
- Qaliif Mumin Sabriya
- Osman Abdulle Farah
NISA added that vehicles used by the militants were destroyed during the Hiran operation. The agency did not provide casualty figures for Somali forces or specify the timing of the raids beyond stating they occurred as part of ongoing security actions in central Somalia.
The intelligence service framed the strikes as part of an intensified campaign to dismantle militant networks, degrade their leadership and financing, and eliminate remaining hideouts in the central corridors of the country. The announcement follows months of stepped-up operations by Somali security forces that have focused on contested districts in regions such as Mudug and Hiran.
In its statement, NISA reaffirmed it would continue pursuing armed groups that threaten security and stability. The agency said it remains focused on pressure operations designed to disrupt planning, logistics, and command nodes used by al-Shabaab in central Somalia.
Sunday’s disclosure underscores the ongoing effort by Somalia’s security institutions and their partners to weaken insurgent activity beyond the capital. Authorities say sustained pressure in central regions is aimed at limiting the militants’ ability to stage attacks, move fighters, and extract revenue from communities under threat.
Further details on the operations were not immediately available. NISA said it will continue to release information as forces identify additional targets and assess the outcome of the latest strikes.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
