Somali intelligence confirms killing of dozens of Al-Shabaab fighters in raid
The operation comes days after a similar one mid this week killed three Al-Shabaab leaders in an airstrike conducted in the Hiran region.
The Somali National Intelligence Agency (NISA) has confirmed the killing of dozens of Al-Shabaab militia during an operation targeting their training centre in Somalia.
In a statement on Saturday, NISA said they conducted the operation in collaboration with international partners in the Ceel-dhiiqo Weyne area, between the Ceel-lahelay and Ceel-garas areas of the Galguduud region.
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"The operation killed 12 members of the Khawarij (Al-Shabaab), including leaders, while 13 others were seriously injured. The operation targeted a training centre for more than 400 militia members, and is tracking the remnants of the militia who fled towards the Ceelbuur district," the agency said in a post on X.
The operation comes days after a similar one mid this week killed three Al-Shabaab leaders in an airstrike conducted in the Hiran region.
On Wednesday, the agency said the leaders killed include Abdullahi Hassan Omar, known by Al-Shabaab as Amniyad Hirshabelle, a leader whose name was abbreviated as Osaam. Osaam was part of the Finance Department. The other two are Qudaame Dheere and Abdul Ladhiif.
The operation that took place in the Shaw area of the Hiran region was done in collaboration with international partners.
"The forces specifically targeted a centre where these leaders were located, eliminating all these leaders and approximately 10 other terrorists," NISA said.
Sustained counter terrorism operations in Somalia have led to a degradation of the militia's capacity and capabilities.
According to the latest IGAD's analysis of Violent Extremism in the second quarter alone (covering the period between April and June this year), about 932 people were killed, 85 per cent of whom were militants, and 412 were injured, most of whom were also militants.
Civilian and security forces deaths comprised 15 per cent of the tally during the quarter that was marked by intense fighting in Somalia and targeted cross-border ambushes in Kenya.
"The figures highlight the intensity of Somali forces and allied counter-offensives, even as civilian deaths remained concentrated in urban bombings, particularly in Mogadishu," the report said.
In the quarter under review, Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle were the epicentre of clashes, Mogadishu was characterised by suicide bombings and mortar attacks, while Mudug, Jubaland, and Puntland had raids and targeted killings.
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