Somalia intelligence agency kills Al-Shabaab mortar unit leader in Basra operation

Somalia intelligence agency kills Al-Shabaab mortar unit leader in Basra operation

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According to NISA, the operation dealt a significant blow to the network accused of planning and carrying out mortar attacks, even though intelligence reports later indicated that the group removed the bodies of its killed leaders from the site and secretly buried them in another location.

Authorities in Somalia have reported the killing of a senior Al-Shabaab militant who allegedly led the group’s unit responsible for carrying out mortar attacks and laying mines across the country.
Ahmed Eybka Aalim, also known as Daqare, was killed during an operation by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) targeting a militant base in Basra, in the Middle Shabelle region. Seven other militants were also killed in the operation.
“NISA conducted a planned operation on the outskirts of Basra in the Middle Shabelle region, killing eight conspirators, including leaders, who belonged to the mine and mortar attack units,” the agency said in a statement on X on Saturday.
“The target of the operation, a gathering place located along the riverbank on the outskirts of Basra, was the leader of the group responsible for laying mines and the leader of the group carrying out terrorist attacks using 107mm mortars, who was named Ahmed Eybka Aalim (Daqare).”
According to NISA, the operation dealt a significant blow to the network accused of planning and carrying out mortar attacks, even though intelligence reports later indicated that the group removed the bodies of its killed leaders from the site and secretly buried them in another location.
Somalia has been battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency for years as part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign across the country.
Earlier this week, the Somali National Army, with support from international partners, carried out a series of airstrikes on July 1 and July 2, 2026, targeting Al-Shabaab positions in the Tawakal, Nuun Garre and Ugunji areas of the Lower Shabelle region.
According to Somaia’s Defence Ministry, the operation killed 27 members of the group and injured about 20 others. The strikes reportedly also destroyed vehicles, weapons, ammunition and bases that the militants had been using to organise and carry out attacks.

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