Mogadishu (Somali Today) — Somali government forces successfully repelled a pre-dawn assault by Al-Shabaab militants in the Middle Shabelle region on Friday, marking the latest clash along a key front line, the Ministry of Defence reported.
This defensive stand follows a separate security breakthrough announced Thursday: the elimination of Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, known as “Engineer Ismail,” a senior bomb maker for the Al-Qaeda-linked group.
Government officials described the operation as a critical step in their broader campaign to degrade the militants’ lethal networks.
Early Friday, the Somali National Army (SNA), supported by local clan militias, intercepted a heavy attack on the Wargaadhi area.
“The ringleader who was leading the assault was killed, and the accompanying militants sustained heavy losses,” the Ministry of Defence stated.
Commanders confirmed that government forces pushed the militants back and are currently pursuing fleeing remnants to “neutralise any remaining threats,” adding that the area remains fully under government control.
Bomb expert killed
The ground victory comes hours after the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced a targeted operation in Jilib, Middle Juba. Conducted with support from unspecified international partners, the strike killed “Engineer Ismail.”
NISA identified him as a central figure in Al-Shabaab’s explosives network, directly linked to the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)—a weapon the group has repeatedly used to terrorize Mogadishu.
“He was among the most dangerous commanders of the Khawarij enemy,” NISA said, using a government pejorative for the militants.
The operation also claimed the life of Abdikariin Mohamed Hirsi, alias “Qoorleex.” Intelligence officials described him as a senior operative in Al-Shabaab’s propaganda wing, Al-Kataib.
According to security officials, U.S. authorities had previously offered up to $5 million for information leading to the targeted leaders, underscoring their value to the insurgency’s operations.
These developments reflect the intensifying pace of the war as Somalia prepares for the next phase of its security transition, including the drawdown of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the transfer of greater responsibilities to the Somali National Army.
In its statement on Friday, the Ministry of Defence reaffirmed its commitment to confronting Al-Shabaab, warning that any attempts to destabilise the region would face a “swift and decisive response”.
