Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced that its elite Gaashaan Special Forces have killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander long sought for orchestrating deadly bomb attacks and destabilizing communities across the Lower Shabelle region.
According to a government statement released Tuesday, the precision operation was conducted late Monday night in the Cumar Beere area.
The target, Hassan Siidoow Hussein, was identified as one of Al-Shabaab’s most influential field operatives in Lower Shabelle.
Authorities described him as the chief architect behind the group’s widespread use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have caused heavy civilian casualties, hindered transportation, and disrupted economic activity along key supply routes.
Security officials added that Hussein played a central role in coordinating ambushes, roadside bombings, and logistical support for Al-Shabaab cells operating throughout the region.
His elimination, they said, represents a significant blow to the group’s ability to execute large-scale attacks.
Gaashaan forces also killed three armed militants who were escorting Hussein at the time of the operation.
NISA reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations will continue to intensify as part of the broader national effort to protect civilians, secure major transport corridors, and dismantle remaining insurgent networks across south-central Somalia.
The agency urged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities or information related to Al-Shabaab or ISIS affiliates through official security hotlines and communication channels, emphasizing that community cooperation remains essential to sustaining recent security gains.