Somali intelligence kills Al-Shabaab leader Abdi Xiiray in major crackdown
More than 10 Al-Shabaab members were also killed, and others wounded, in a raid on militias gathering in the village of Tugaarey, Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle.
The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has announced the killing of Al-Shabaab leader Abdi Xiiray and two other commanders in an operation targeting the militia's leadership in the Mokhakori district.
The operation covered the Hiran, Galgaduud, and Lower Shabelle regions.
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NISA described Abdi Xiiray as a long-wanted, ruthless mastermind responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks that harmed civilians in the HirShabelle region.
In the lower Shabelle region, more than 10 al-Shabaab members were killed and several others were wounded in an operation targeting enemy militias gathering in the village of Tugaarey under the Awdheegle district.
More than 10 Al-Shabaab members were also killed, and others wounded, in a raid on militias gathering in the village of Tugaarey, Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle.
“These targeted operations are part of efforts to cripple the Khawarij, and to prevent any kind of conspiracy they may hatch against the Somali people,” NISA said.
The announcement comes days after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared ongoing counter-terrorism operations to be yielding results.
“Al-Shabaab is weak, but they still are a serious challenge to the country. There's no indication that Al-Shabaab is stronger than it was two years ago. Most of the towns and cities have been liberated. We have achieved significant success and progress,” President Hassan said in an interview with BBC Somalia.
He added that counter-terrorism efforts now combine military, ideological, and financial strategies aimed at combating al-Shabaab’s narratives and resources.
“Traditionally, Al-Shabaab was fought with military force only; we have now operated on many other fronts. We have an ideological war against Al-Shabaab, which is to show the Somali people that their cause and claim, which is that they are Islamists, puritanical Islamists, is not true. Besides the military and the ideological, the third front is fighting financial terror,” said President Hassan.
President Hassan revealed he has been targeted multiple times by the group since stepping up efforts to end terrorism.
“In the last two years, Al-Shabaab have attempted to assassinate me five times. I take that risk, but I will not be imprisoned by fear,” he said.
Earlier this month, NISA and partners killed senior Al-Shabaab commander Mohamed Abdi Dhiblawe in Ugunji village. Dhiblawe was identified as the mastermind behind an attack targeting the president’s convoy in Mogadishu in March.
Multiple senior Al-Shabaab leaders have been eliminated in ongoing operations, boosting Somalia’s security efforts.
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