Wednesday September 24, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali security forces, with support from international partners, have escalated their campaign against Al-Shabab, killing senior commanders in an airstrike in Hiiraan, battling militants in the Bay region, and hearing public testimony from clan elders freed after two months in militant captivity.
The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said a targeted strike in Moqokori district killed three senior Al-Shabab figures, including Abdixiray, a commander accused of leading attacks in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle. Officials said the operation was carried out with international support and more details will follow.
In Bay region, heavy fighting broke out at dawn Wednesday on the outskirts of Buurhakaba when Al-Shabab fighters attacked outposts manned by federal and Southwest state forces. Military officials said the joint forces repelled the assault and forced the militants to withdraw.
The clashes caused casualties on both sides and among nearby civilians. Captain Aadan Karabin, deputy commander of the Southwest Darwish in Burhakaba, was killed, shocking both military leaders and residents. Dozens of wounded soldiers and civilians were taken to Buurhakaba’s hospital, where doctors described several cases as critical. Families fled neighborhoods near the fighting as troops launched follow-up operations around the town.
Meanwhile, in El Waq near the Somalia–Kenya border, five clan elders spoke publicly about their ordeal after spending 62 days in Al-Shabab captivity. They told residents at a community forum known locally as Jukwaa la Usalama that they endured threats, food shortages and daily fear for their lives.
“We faced constant fear, pressure and threats every day. We never knew if we would see another day, but God saved us,” one elder said.
The elders, who are seeking financial assistance, voiced support for government plans to arm and train local administrators to defend border communities. Kenyan officials from Mandera South, who attended the event, called for stronger cross-border cooperation, noting that Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties remain vulnerable to extremist attacks.