Al-Shabaab says senior official Killed in airstrike near Saakow

The militant group Al-Shabaab has announced that one of its senior officials was killed in an airstrike outside Saakow town in Somalia’s Middle Juba region.

In a statement, the group identified the official as Sheikh Mohamed Saahal, also known as Abu Usama, whom it described as the head of its drought response committee. Al-Shabaab said the strike targeted him while he was in an area of the region allegedly engaged in activities related to providing aid and support to communities affected by drought.

According to the group, Sheikh Abu Usama had previously held several positions within Al-Shabaab, including serving for several years as the official responsible for Lower Shabelle when the group controlled parts of the region.

The statement came hours after Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reported that an airstrike conducted outside Saakow district, with the support of international security partners, had targeted a senior Al-Shabaab leader. NISA described the operation as successful but did not disclose the identity of the individual struck.

“As part of a joint effort with international partners, NISA conducted an operation targeting a senior Al-Shabaab leader outside Saakow district in the Middle Juba region,” the agency said in an earlier announcement.

As of now, the Federal Government of Somalia has not issued an official statement confirming or denying Al-Shabaab’s claim regarding the death of Sheikh Mohamed Saahal.

The incident highlights the continuing aerial campaign targeting militant leadership in southern Somalia, where security operations against Al-Shabaab remain ongoing

Mustaqbal