Somali forces kill several senior al-Shabab leaders

Somali government forces and international partners have killed several senior al-Shabab leaders during recent joint military operations, according to Information Minister Abdifitah Qasim.

One of the most significant casualties was Abdullahi Hashi Hirsi, also known as Ikhlas, who reportedly headed al-Shabab’s intelligence wing. Hirsi was killed on August 23 during a planned operation in the Jilib district of the Middle Juba region. Officials described him as a key figure in gathering information and coordinating militant operations, while also accusing him of abusing civilians in group-run prisons.

Other high-ranking militants reported killed over the last five months include Said Huriya, the group’s extortion chief in eastern Hiiraan, and Hamza Bakool and Osman, who died in the Taradho area. Additionally, officials identified Abdihafid, a member of the explosives unit, as well as Taliman, head of rescue operations in Hiiraan, and Omar Hussein as recent casualties of these operations.