MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said its forces, working with support from international partners, carried out a planned security operation targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Tardo village, Hiiraan region.
NISA said the operation resulted in the deaths of eight Al-Shabaab members, including three senior militants, while four others were wounded. The agency described the targeted individuals as key figures involved in the group’s activities in Hiiraan.
According to NISA, the operation targeted members responsible for leadership, coordination and mobilisation of Al-Shabaab operations in the region. One of the senior figures was identified by the agency as being responsible for the group’s extortion and taxation network in eastern Hiiraan, which is believed to be an important source of revenue for Al-Shabaab.
The agency said the operation was carried out as part of broader security efforts aimed at disrupting Al-Shabaab’s command structure, financial networks and operational capabilities in central Somalia.
NISA said targeting senior commanders and individuals involved in collecting funds is intended to reduce the group’s ability to recruit fighters, finance operations and maintain control over areas where it operates.
The operation comes as Somali security forces continue military and intelligence operations against Al-Shabaab in several parts of the country. Hiiraan has remained an important area in the fight against the militant group because of its strategic location and the presence of both government forces and local armed groups.
NISA said its forces will continue intelligence-led operations against Al-Shabaab and work with international partners to prevent the group from reorganising and launching further attacks.
The claims could not be independently verified, and NISA did not immediately provide the names of all those killed or further details about the international forces involved.
