At least 44 Al-Shabaab militants killed in Somalia operation

MOGADISHU, Somalia - An operation waged by the National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] has left over 44 Al-Shabaab militants dead, state media reported, in the latest crackdown which comes moments before the country launches the second phase of operations against the group which is dominant in central and southern Somalia.

The operation, security forces revealed, left a number of senior commanders dead, a huge trajectory in the war against the group. The operation was conducted in Ali Fuuto near Kurtowarey in the Lower Shabelle region, which is prone to Al-Shabaab attacks, a senior official confirmed.

Abdirahman Yusuf Adala, the Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, and Tourism, told state media that the international partners participated in the exercise. He said the National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] was the lead team in the operation, which is the biggest in recent weeks.

“Our Intelligence, NISA, and International Partners destroyed the terrorist strong-holds where they were regrouping at the time of the special operation”, Adala said.

The government of Somalia, he added, is committed to eradicating Al-Shabaab militants who have been wreaking havoc in the country for the last 16 years. The government through President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had declared total war against the Al-Shabaab group after he took over leadership in 2022.

The operation comes days before the Government plans to launch the second phase of the total war on the group fighters in the southwest and southern parts of the country. Already, Somalia has asked for more assistance from members of the international community ahead of the second phase of operations.

During the first operation, over 3,000 Al-Shabaab militants were killed and 3,700 injured, the government announced, but the Al-Shabaab refuted the claims, insisting that "we have not lost the war to them, we managed to repulse their offensives". The group, however, conceded ceding grounds on some fronts.

Ali Fuuto village is about 208 kilometers Southwest of the capital Mogadishu. The National Intelligence Security Agency lauded the international partners for "support" in the latest offensive which has the blessings of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] and the US Africa Command.

GAROWE ONLINE