The Somali National Army (SNA) has released the names of senior Al-Shabaab operatives and clan elders who were killed in a recent airstrike targeting the militant group’s leadership.
In a coordinated aerial operation carried out with intelligence support from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Somali Air Force jets—assisted by international partners—struck an Al-Shabaab stronghold in Dib-Dheer, a locality in the El-Buur district of the Galgaduud region.
According to the SNA command, the strike successfully neutralized high-ranking Al-Shabaab figures, including:
- Ahmed Maalim – Al-Shabaab commander for El-Buur district.
- Abu Salman – Al-Shabaab commander for Eel-Garas, Galgaduud.
- Hussein Ali Badal – Al-Shabaab commander for Hiindheere.
- Budul Farah Geed – Al-Shabaab commander for Eel-Qohle.
- Zakariye – A senior Al-Shabaab leader in Galgaduud.
Additionally, the airstrike eliminated several influential clan elders who had been instrumental in Al-Shabaab’s recruitment and propaganda efforts:
- Mire Cagdheer
- Muuse Omar
- Maxamed Urur
- Haji Bashiir
These individuals were accused of manipulating local communities and facilitating Al-Shabaab’s control in the region, according to the SNA command.
This operation follows a ground assault by local Maawiisley fighters on March 13, 2025, where they clashed directly with Al-Shabaab militants in Bay-Aadle village. The latest strike is part of a sustained military campaign to dismantle the group’s influence in central Somalia.
