Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) says it has killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander accused of overseeing the group’s mortar attacks and roadside bomb operations during a security operation in the Basra area of the Middle Shabelle region. The operation, conducted on the outskirts of Basra, also resulted in the deaths of seven other suspected militants, according to the agency.
In a statement released on Saturday, NISA said the operation targeted what it described as a militant gathering point along the riverbank in Basra after intelligence indicated that senior members of the armed group were meeting at the location.
The agency identified the slain commander as Ahmed Eybka Aalim, also known by the alias Daqare, alleging that he headed Al-Shabaab units responsible for planting explosive devices and coordinating attacks using 107mm mortars.
“NISA conducted a planned operation on the outskirts of Basra in the Middle Shabelle region, killing eight conspirators, including leaders, who belonged to the mine and mortar attack units,” the agency said in its statement.
It added that the operation specifically targeted senior operatives believed to have played key roles in planning attacks against civilians, government institutions and security forces.
According to the intelligence agency, Ahmed Eybka Aalim was considered one of the group’s senior field commanders in charge of coordinating mortar attacks while also supervising operatives responsible for laying roadside bombs in several parts of the country.
NISA said preliminary intelligence gathered after the raid suggested that surviving members of Al-Shabaab later returned to the site, removed the bodies of those killed and buried them at a separate undisclosed location.
The agency described the operation as a significant setback for the militant network operating in Middle Shabelle, saying it disrupted an important command structure responsible for planning indirect fire attacks and the use of improvised explosive devices.
Independent verification of the casualties or the identity of those killed was not immediately available, and Al-Shabaab had not publicly commented on the claims at the time of publication.
Security analysts say Middle Shabelle remains one of the regions where government forces continue to face persistent attacks despite sustained military pressure on the extremist group. The area has witnessed repeated operations involving Somali security agencies, supported in some instances by local community fighters and international partners.
A security official familiar with operations in the region, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said intelligence-driven missions have increasingly focused on dismantling the group’s command networks rather than targeting rank-and-file fighters alone.
“Operations that remove experienced commanders can disrupt planning and coordination, particularly when they involve specialists responsible for explosives and indirect fire attacks,” the official said. “However, sustaining those gains requires continued pressure because the group has demonstrated an ability to replace field commanders over time.”
Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade, continues to carry out bombings, assassinations and complex attacks targeting security personnel, government officials and civilians. The group frequently uses improvised explosive devices and mortar attacks against military installations and urban centres, posing one of the country’s most persistent security challenges.
The Somali government has intensified counterterrorism operations in recent years, combining military offensives with intelligence-led raids aimed at weakening the group’s operational capacity. Officials say the campaign has resulted in the recapture of several settlements and the elimination of numerous senior militants, although Al-Shabaab continues to retain influence in parts of central and southern Somalia.
The latest operation comes as authorities seek to maintain momentum against the insurgency while strengthening security in areas recovered from militant control. Analysts note that eliminating experienced commanders may temporarily disrupt planned attacks, but caution that the broader threat will depend on the group’s ability to regroup and recruit replacements.
Government officials have indicated that intelligence operations against Al-Shabaab will continue across affected regions as part of wider efforts to degrade the group’s operational capabilities and improve security for local communities. Observers say the effectiveness of those efforts will be measured not only by battlefield successes but also by the government’s ability to prevent retaliatory attacks and consolidate stability in areas reclaimed from militant control.
