Somali forces, backed by international partners, have killed over 42 al-Shabaab fighters, including two senior commanders, during joint military operations in the southern regions of Middle Juba and Lower Shabelle, authorities said Thursday.
The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed that a coordinated operation eliminated Abdihamid Ali Abdullahi Macalin, a senior al-Shabaab leader responsible for coordinating with foreign terror networks. According to an official statement, Macalin was the group’s point man for smuggling weapons and explosives into Somalia.
In a separate strike, security forces killed Suleyman Omar Fidow, described by NISA as the group’s intelligence chief and the mastermind behind its suicide bombing units. The statement noted that Fidow was preparing to take over explosives operations following the death of another commander, Engineer Ismail, in December 2025.
Both leaders were killed in operations conducted in the Jilib district of Middle Juba and the Ugunji area of Lower Shabelle.
Meanwhile, the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), operating alongside Ugandan peacekeepers from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), killed more than 40 additional al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle. The Defense Ministry said the fighters were neutralized while attempting to attack Mubarak, a strategic agricultural town recently liberated from the group.
Al-Shabaab has waged a violent insurgency against the Somali government for over 16 years, regularly targeting security forces, officials, and civilians. Since last July, Somali forces-with support from AUSSOM and other international partners-have significantly stepped up operations aimed at weakening the group.
The UN Security Council renewed AUSSOM’s mandate for another year in December, extending its authorization until Dec. 31.