MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said it killed more than 23 Al-Shabaab militants in a series of coordinated air and ground operations in south and cenytral Somalia.
The agency said the four separate raids, conducted with support from international partners, targeted militant hideouts in the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.
NISA described the missions as “preemptive strikes,” based on intelligence indicating the fighters were mobilizing to launch attacks across Hirshabelle State.
“The agency… killed more than 23 conspirators who were preparing to commit acts of insecurity,” NISA said in a statement released Tuesday in Mogadishu.
The operations struck a cell in the Wab-weyn and Gobo areas near Mahas town, reportedly led by a commander identified as Mustaf Ato. Security forces also targeted a militant gathering in Maxaa Saciid in Middle Shabelle.
The most recent raid, carried out late Monday night, destroyed a camp in Moqokori district of Hiiraan. NISA said the facility was used by the group’s “Hisbah” religious police militia to plan imminent attacks.
