Three high-ranking Al-Shabaab commanders, believed to be behind numerous deadly attacks across Somalia, were killed in a coordinated security operation by Somali forces and international allies, the government confirmed Saturday evening.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism identified one of the militants as Nuur Abdi Rooble, described as one of the most brutal figures involved in attacks targeting civilians.
The operation, carried out on June 6 in the Ceelhareeri area of the central Hiiraan region, was jointly planned and executed by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), the Somali National Army (SNA), and international partners, officials said Sunday.
Though full details on the identities of the militants have not yet been released, authorities confirmed all three were senior members of the al-Qaeda-linked group’s leadership.
Security sources described the operation as a significant strike against the Al-Shabaab Khawarij faction. “This marks a major blow to the Khawarij terrorists as we work to dismantle their leadership and operational networks,” a security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the mission.
In addition to Rooble, two other senior commanders were named: Caddaw, who oversaw what the group calls “intelligence tracking” in the Galgaduud region, and Macallin Cumar, a key figure in the training of Al-Shabaab fighters.
Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency in Somalia for over a decade and continues to carry out deadly attacks despite growing military pressure. The Somali government has recently intensified counterterrorism efforts, vowing to eradicate the group’s presence in rural strongholds.
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