LOWER SHABELLE (Kaab TV) – The Somali National Army has killed two members of Al-Shabaab during a military operation carried out in the Hanti Wadaag area of the Lower Shabelle region, according to a statement issued by Somalia’s Ministry of Defense.

The ministry said the operation specifically targeted a senior Al-Shabaab figure identified as Abu Cabdalla, who was accused of playing a long-standing role in organizing and coordinating attacks that destabilized local communities in the region.

According to the statement, Abu Cabdalla was heavily involved in planning and directing Al-Shabaab activities across parts of Lower Shabelle, an area that has frequently witnessed militant attacks, ambushes, and roadside bombings targeting civilians and security forces.

Military officials stated that the militant commander was killed during the operation along with his personal bodyguard.

The Ministry of Defense described the raid as part of ongoing efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities by targeting senior commanders and fighters responsible for coordinating attacks against civilians and government institutions.

Authorities said Somali forces will continue military operations aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab networks and restoring security and stability across the country.

Lower Shabelle remains one of the key regions in Somalia’s counterinsurgency campaign due to its strategic location near Mogadishu and the continued presence of Al-Shabaab fighters in rural areas.

The region has witnessed intensified operations in recent years involving Somali government troops, local clan fighters, and international partners supporting efforts to reclaim territory from the militant group.

Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade, continues to carry out bombings, assassinations, and attacks targeting government officials, security forces, and civilians despite sustained military pressure.

Somali authorities have recently increased offensives against the group in several regions, saying the operations are intended to disrupt Al-Shabaab leadership structures, supply routes, and areas used for launching attacks.