Wednesday July 2, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali National Army's elite Danab
Commandos have killed a senior Al-Shabaab leader and eight of his bodyguards in
a targeted operation conducted in the Bariire area of the Lower Shabelle
region.
The slain militant, identified only as Jaabir, was described
by government officials as Al-Shabaab’s head of mines in the Lower Shabelle
region. His death was confirmed in a statement released by the Federal
Government of Somalia on Tuesday.
"The Somali National Army's Danab special forces have
killed a senior Khawarij leader known as Jaabir and eight Khawarij operatives
in a well-planned operation in the Bariire area of Lower Shabelle region,"
the statement said, using the term "Khawarij" to refer to the
extremist group.
The operation also led to the destruction of the hideouts,
bases, and bunkers where Jaabir and his fighters had been organizing attacks
and assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting Somali civilians
and security forces.
Security officials hailed the successful strike as a
significant blow to Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities in Lower Shabelle,
one of the regions most affected by the group’s insurgency.
The Somali National Army, in cooperation with international
partners, continues to intensify its military campaign aimed at dismantling
Al-Shabaab’s command structure and eliminating its leadership across southern
and central Somalia.