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Militant Leader, 15 Fighters Killed in Somali Army Raid

Storyline:Security, War on Al-Shabaab

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s elite Danab Commandos killed more than 15 Al-Shabaab fighters in a coordinated operation in the Middle Shabelle region, security officials said on Tuesday, in one of the latest offensives aimed at dismantling the militant group’s presence in the country.

The operation, conducted in the district of Masaajid Cali Gaduud, combined ground assaults by the Danab Special Forces with airstrikes carried out in coordination with international partners, targeting key militant hideouts in and around the town.

Among those killed was Bashir Ahmed Dhuxul, also known as Bashir Caadle, who served as Al-Shabaab’s regional propaganda chief in Middle Shabelle. Officials said his death represents a major setback for the group’s recruitment and ideological campaigns.

Security forces also destroyed three vehicles, including two military trucks and an ambulance repurposed by militants for operational use, according to the Somali National Army (SNA) command.

“The operation struck at the heart of Al-Shabaab’s staging areas, forcing militants to retreat in disarray,” an SNA spokesperson said. “This is part of our broader strategy to eliminate terrorist threats and restore peace across Somalia.”

The government reiterated its commitment to continuing offensive operations against militant groups and warned that any threats to civilian safety would be met with “decisive force and zero tolerance.”

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, United States, and other countries, has waged a violent insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade.