Somalia’s Intelligence Forces Deal a Major Blow to Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan

 Somalia’s Intelligence Forces Deal a Major Blow to Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan

Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in close cooperation with international partners, carried out a successful military operation that killed 15 al-Shabaab militants near Gayacad junction, close to the Mabaax area in the Hiiraan region.

The operation, which took place on Saturday, was based on solid intelligence and executed in three strategic phases. It targeted a group of militants who had been mobilized from Adan Yabal and Ceel Cali Ahmed in the Middle Shabelle region. These militants were reportedly heading to reinforce al-Shabaab fighters trapped in parts of Hiiraan.

Despite their efforts to avoid detection by hiding in remote bushland, the joint forces managed to intercept and neutralize the group. Five other militants were wounded in the operation. Although some fighters escaped during the raids, security forces have launched a manhunt to track them down.

According to security officials, all three waves of the operation achieved their objectives. NISA emphasized its continued commitment to dismantling the terror group’s operational networks and acknowledged the critical support of international allies in the ongoing fight against terrorism in Somalia.

This operation marks another important step in weakening al-Shabaab’s capacity to organize and launch attacks, reinforcing the message that there is no safe space for extremists within Somalia.