AWDHEEGLE — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), working in close collaboration with international partners, has successfully eliminated a high-ranking Khawaarij (Al-Shabaab) commander in a precision overnight operation.
The successful strike took place in the Hantiwadaag neighborhood of the Awdheegle District, located within the Lower Shabelle region. According to security officials, the operation was the culmination of an exhaustive 150-day intelligence pursuit aimed at neutralizing a key terrorist mastermind.
The Architect of Major Attacks
The eliminated leader operated under multiple aliases, including Kamaluddin Yunis Mohamed, Salim Nur Sheikh Abdirahim, Arale, and Abdullahi Hassan Ali. NISA identified him as the primary handler of the militant network responsible for executing several devastating, high-profile attacks that resulted in the tragic deaths of civilians, military officers, and national security personnel.
Specifically, intelligence sources confirmed he directly coordinated and managed the terrorist cells that carried out:
- The deadly suicide attack at the Jaalle Siyad College on July 9, 2025.
- The assault targeting the Godka Jilacow security facility on October 4, 2025.
- The attack on the General Dhega-Badan Training School (Nacnac Camp) on December 10, 2025.
A 150-Day Manhunt
Security forces stated that last night’s operation was explicitly carried out to avenge the blood of the innocent civilians and security personnel who lost their lives in those orchestrated bombings.
The tracking of this high-value target was highly complex, requiring more than 150 days of continuous surveillance. NISA officials noted that extraordinary precautions were taken prior to the strike to ensure the absolute safety of the public. The commander actively attempted to evade capture by frequently seeking refuge in heavily populated civilian areas, constantly moving between the towns of Mubarak, Ugunji, Darussalam, Hantiwadaag, Kurtunwarey, and Gendershe.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed that targeted intelligence operations aimed at destroying terrorist networks and their senior leaders will continue relentlessly until complete security and lasting stability are achieved across the entire country.
