Somali Commandos Strike a Major Blow to Al-Shabaab’s Finances in Lower Shabelle

 Somali Commandos Strike a Major Blow to Al-Shabaab’s Finances in Lower Shabelle

In a major win for Somalia’s ongoing counterterrorism operations, elite Danab forces have killed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as “Arab,” a senior figure in Al-Shabaab’s illegal taxation network. The operation took place in the Toratorow area of Lower Shabelle and was described by the Somali National Army (SNA) as “successful and executed as planned.”

Arab was responsible for leading the Zakawaat wing—Al-Shabaab’s extortion mechanism in the region. Not only was he eliminated, but his motorcycle and large amounts of illicitly obtained money were seized. This tactical operation is a crucial part of the broader offensive targeting the group’s financial backbone.

For years, Al-Shabaab has used taxation, threats, and force to drain rural communities and fund its insurgency. But recent coordinated efforts between the Somali military and international partners are reversing that tide. As terrorism’s strongholds begin to crumble, communities in southern Somalia are starting to glimpse hope, freedom, and the promise of peace.

This strike serves as a symbol of the new Somalia—resilient, strategic, and committed to rooting out terrorism at every level.