NISA Says Operation in Southern Somalia Kills Senior Al-Shabaab Commander, Seizes Weapons Cache

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said on Saturday its forces had killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander and several fighters during an operation in the Basra area of the Lower Shabelle region, as security forces continue operations aimed at weakening the militant group’s operational network.

In a statement, NISA said the operation targeted what it described as a gathering of senior Al-Shabaab members in the Basra forests, an area long regarded as one of the group’s key hideouts south of Mogadishu.

The agency identified the commander killed as Ahmed Eybka Caalim, also known as “Daqare”, whom it accused of overseeing the group’s heavy weapons unit. NISA said several other militants were also killed during the raid.

Security forces also seized a cache of weapons, including 107mm rockets, according to the statement. The agency said the operation dealt a significant blow to Al-Shabaab’s ability to plan and carry out attacks in the area.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims, and Al-Shabaab had not immediately commented on the reported operation.

NISA said the operation forms part of a broader campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s military infrastructure and intelligence networks. The agency also urged members of the public to report information related to the group through its security hotlines.

Basra, located about 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, has for years served as a strategic transit corridor and operational base for Al-Shabaab because of its dense vegetation and proximity to the Somali capital. Somali government forces have repeatedly launched military operations there with support from local forces and international partners, although the group has continued to mount attacks in parts of Lower Shabelle and the wider Horn of Africa.

The announcement comes as Somali security forces have stepped up operations against Al-Shabaab in several regions, including Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan and Jubbaland, where the government says it is seeking to disrupt the group’s leadership, finances and logistical networks.

Despite sustained military pressure, Al-Shabaab continues to carry out bombings, targeted assassinations and assaults on military installations, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing Somalia.