Wednesday July 2, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali National Army's elite Danab Commandos have killed a senior Al-Shabaab leader and eight of his bodyguards in a targeted operation conducted in the Bariire area of the Lower Shabelle region.
The slain militant, identified only as Jaabir, was described by government officials as Al-Shabaab’s head of mines in the Lower Shabelle region. His death was confirmed in a statement released by the Federal Government of Somalia on Tuesday.
The operation also led to the destruction of the hideouts, bases, and bunkers where Jaabir and his fighters had been organizing attacks and assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting Somali civilians and security forces.
Security officials hailed the successful strike as a significant blow to Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities in Lower Shabelle, one of the regions most affected by the group’s insurgency.
The Somali National Army, in cooperation with international partners, continues to intensify its military campaign aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab’s command structure and eliminating its leadership across southern and central Somalia.