NISA Kills Senior Al-Shabaab Explosives Commander in Operations That Leave 29 Militants Dead

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said it had killed 29 Al-Shabaab militants, including the group’s chief explosives operative in Hiiraan region, during coordinated operations carried out in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan as security forces intensify pressure on the insurgent group.

In a statement, NISA said 23 militants were killed in an operation targeting a gathering of Al-Shabaab fighters near Masaajid Cali Gaduud in Middle Shabelle. Intelligence reports indicated the militants were planning attacks aimed at destabilizing areas recently recovered by government forces and local community fighters.

In a separate operation in Buq-aqable district of Hiiraan region, security forces killed six militants, among them Abdirahman “Abdi Mudallib,” who NISA identified as Al-Shabaab’s chief explosives commander for Hiiraan.

According to the agency, Abdi Mudallib played a central role in planning and coordinating bomb attacks in the districts of Bulo-burde and Jalalaqsi and was considered one of the group’s most important operatives in the region.

Security officials described his death as a major setback for Al-Shabaab’s ability to manufacture and deploy improvised explosive devices (IEDs), one of the group’s deadliest tactics against civilians, security personnel and government installations.

The operations form part of a broader offensive by Somali security forces, supported by international partners, aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab’s leadership structure and disrupting its operational networks across central and southern Somalia.

The latest strikes come as the Federal Government continues military campaigns in Hirshabelle, Galmudug and other regions, combining ground operations with intelligence-led missions targeting senior militant commanders. Officials say recent operations have increasingly focused on dismantling the group’s bomb-making units, extortion networks and logistical supply chains.

Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than a decade, has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years as Somali forces and allied community fighters have expanded operations in areas previously under militant control.

The government says sustained military pressure, coupled with stabilization and development efforts in liberated areas, is critical to preventing the group’s return and improving security for local communities.

Federal government authorities pledged to continue operations against Al-Shabaab and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by sharing information that could help prevent future attacks.