Somalian forces kill over 33 Al‑Shabaab militants in middle Shabelle

The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has announced that more than 33 Al‑Shabaab fighters were killed during a series of planned operations in the Guulane area of Middle Shabelle.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, NISA said the operations were conducted with support from international partners and targeted militant gatherings and hideouts.

According to NISA, the first strike hit a house where senior leaders and fighters had gathered, killing 15 militants. The site, which was reportedly used to mobilize fighters and plan attacks, was destroyed.

Subsequent strikes in the same area killed more than 18 additional militants. Authorities also reported the destruction of a transport vehicle used by the group, significantly impacting their ability to move personnel.

NISA said the operations were based on intelligence indicating that about 90 militants had assembled in the region to prepare attacks that posed a threat to national security, and described the strikes as preemptive measures aimed at weakening the group's operational capacity and disrupting their planned attacks.

Al‑Shabaab has been waging an insurgency against Somalia's government for more than a decade, frequently targeting security forces, government officials and civilians.