LOWER SHABELLE — The Somali National Armed Forces (SNA), spearheaded by the elite 203rd Unit of the 20th Brigade of the Gorgor Commandos, have successfully apprehended a senior Al-Shabaab leader named Salad Moalim Osman Abdiyow, also known by the alias “Salad Dheere.”
A Targeted Commando Operation
According to military officials, this highly planned and precisely executed operation was led by the Unit’s Deputy Commander, Second Lieutenant Hasan Ahmed Gabow (Hasan Yare). The successful tactical raid took place in the remote village of Soo-Maray, strategically located approximately 5 kilometers west of the Mubarak area in the Lower Shabelle region.
The swift capture of this high-value target directly complements recent massive victories by the Somali National Army, which successfully ousted militant forces to gain complete authority over the vital strategic strongholds of Mubarak and Daarusalaam.
Dismantling Militant Leadership
Following the operation, Commander Hasan Yare confirmed to state media that the apprehended leader was actively engaged in plotting numerous acts of insecurity and asymmetric violence aimed at the Somali civilian population. Intelligence indicates that Salad Dhere served as the primary Kharijite official directly responsible for orchestrating insurgent activities across several surrounding settlements.
His operational jurisdiction reportedly included the villages of Bula Abdulle, Mudulow, Bula-donka, Ugunji Busley, and Soo-Maray—all of which fall under the broader Mubarak administrative area. By neutralizing the regional militant leadership, the Gorgor Commandos are steadily achieving the core objectives of ongoing military offensives designed to systematically dismantle Al-Shabaab’s remaining operational networks across Lower Shabelle.
