Al-Shabaab founding member killed in Somali airstrike amid ongoing military offensive
SNAF said the operation highlighted the strong coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, aimed at ensuring security, stability, and lasting peace for the Somali people.
The Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) have confirmed the killing of a senior Al-Shabaab commander in an airstrike on Sunday in Bu'ale, in the Central Juba region.
In a statement on Monday, SNAF announced that the precision strike eliminated Al-Shabaab commander Mahmoud Abdi Hamud, also known as Jaafar Gurey.
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According to the Somali military, Mahmoud was among the founding members of the militia group and a key ally of its leaders, Ahmed Abdi Godane and Ahmed Diriye.
"Over the years, he held several senior positions within the group, including Head of External Security, Head of Leadership Security, and Head of Intelligence Tracking – all roles tied to the group's espionage, operational planning, and brutal assassination activities," the statement, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, reads.
"He also played a significant role in the early financing and formation of the Al-Shabaab organisation, having been involved in embezzling funds from an Ethiopian company together with the group's former leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, which were later used to fund the group's establishment."
SNAF said the operation highlighted the strong coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, aimed at ensuring security, stability, and lasting peace for the Somali people.
Somali authorities have been stepping up air and ground offensives against Al-Shabaab strongholds across southern and central regions, targeting senior commanders and supply routes to dismantle the group's operational network and reclaim territory under its control.
In late September, for instance, the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) 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.
Abdi was described by NISA as a long-wanted, ruthless mastermind responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks that harmed civilians in the HirShabelle region.
Earlier in the same month, NISA and its partners also killed senior Al-Shabaab commander Mohamed Abdi Dhiblawe in Ugunji village. Dhiblawe was identified as the mastermind behind an attack targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in Mogadishu in March.
"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," Hassan said in October, maintaining that ongoing counter-terrorism operations were yielding results.
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