Al Shabab leader killed in Lower Shabelle region

Somali Special Forces killed Deputy al Shabab leader of Mubarak village in the Lower Shabelle region, during a security operation in the village. The group has neither accepted nor denied the claim.

The Federal Ministry of Information said in a statement on Saturday that ten Alshabab members were wounded in the operation, including the group’s highest leader of Mubarak village, Osman Da’ud, and another leader named Ow Maay, who was in charge of collecting money for the group in Mubarak village.

The statement added that the operation’s goal was to target the main headquarters of the al-Shabaab group, which extorts money from people in the Lower Shabelle region.

The Ministry confirmed that several civilians who were scene during the operation were wounded but did not specify the number of civilians injured and the date of the operation.

Last week, Somali government forces, including Harmacad (Cheetah) and NISA units, attacked the group’s bases near Basra, a village between Afgoye and Bal’ad districts that serves as one of Al Shabaab’s shadow courts.

Several Al Shabaab officials and fighters were apprehended, according to Somali security forces.