Somali Army kills Senior Al-Shabaab leader in special operation

The Somali National Armed Forces (SNA) have killed a senior Al-Shabaab leader during a planned special operation, delivering another blow to the militant group’s leadership, according to government officials.

The operation resulted in the death of Abdisalam Moallim Abukar, whom authorities identified as a senior Al-Shabaab operative responsible for recruiting new fighters and collecting extortion payments from civilians on behalf of the group.

Officials said another senior Al-Shabaab leader was seriously wounded during the operation, though no further details regarding the individual’s identity or condition were immediately released.

The Somali military described the raid as an intelligence-driven operation targeting key figures involved in sustaining Al-Shabaab’s operations through recruitment and illegal taxation.

The latest operation forms part of ongoing military offensives aimed at dismantling the group’s command structure, disrupting its financial networks, and weakening its operational capabilities across Somalia.

The Federal Government has intensified counterterrorism operations in recent months, targeting senior militant leaders as part of its broader campaign to defeat Al-Shabaab and restore security across the country.

Mustaqbal