Somalia’s NISA says over 40 al-Shabaab militants killed in Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle operations

Somalia says NISA raids kill more than 40 Al-Shabaab militants in Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), working with international partners, said Saturday it killed more than 40 Al-Shabaab militants in coordinated counterterrorism operations in the central Hiiraan region and the southern Lower Shabelle region.

NISA said the first raid unfolded in the Waab-Weyn and Isgoyska Madashyo-Weyn areas under Mahaas district in Hiiraan, targeting fighters the agency alleged were organizing attacks near the town. The operation killed up to 17 militants and destroyed several hideouts, according to the statement.

A second operation in the Bulo-Naagey forest of Lower Shabelle killed 23 additional Al-Shabaab fighters, NISA said. The agency alleged the militants had been deployed there to disrupt government forces and ongoing security operations, but said those plans were thwarted.

The casualty figures could not be independently verified, and details about the precise timing of the strikes, the specific foreign partners involved, and whether any air assets were used were not immediately disclosed. Security claims in remote parts of Somalia are often difficult to confirm due to limited access and communications.

The twin raids underscore intensified efforts by Somali security services to pressure Al-Shabaab in areas where the al-Qaida-linked group has long used rural terrain and forest cover to stage attacks and move personnel. Hiiraan has been a focal point of recent fighting as government-aligned forces seek to consolidate gains around Mahaas and key supply routes, while Lower Shabelle has historically served as a staging ground for insurgent operations south and west of Mogadishu.

NISA framed the actions as part of a broader push to dismantle Al-Shabaab networks and restore security. The agency urged the public to report suspicious activity and said dedicated hotlines are open to receive security-related information. Somali authorities have increasingly appealed for civilian cooperation to identify militant movements, weapons caches, and improvised explosive device cells that often operate in and around population centers.

Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency since 2007, carrying out bombings, assassinations, and assaults on both military and civilian targets. Somali security agencies, backed by international partners, have in recent years sought to degrade the group’s command-and-control and deny it havens across central and southern regions. While authorities routinely report militant losses after raids, independent verification can lag amid active operations and restricted access to battle sites.

Saturday’s announcement did not mention any casualties among Somali forces or civilians. It also did not provide identifying details of the militant units allegedly targeted, beyond their purported roles in plotting attacks and attempting to disrupt government operations.

The government has encouraged residents in newly secured areas to return to normal activity as security forces extend patrols and reopen key roads. But analysts say lasting stability will depend on sustaining pressure on Al-Shabaab cells, protecting communities from reprisal attacks, and reestablishing local governance and services alongside security gains.

For now, NISA’s latest account points to continued tempo in a campaign aimed at denying the insurgency room to maneuver across a patchwork of rural strongholds. Further details may emerge as authorities consolidate control of the targeted zones and assess the aftermath of the raids.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.