Al-Shabaab commander, 6 militants killed in Somalia operation

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A senior Al-Shabaab commander, who has been on the radar for a couple of years, was over the weekend killed in Middle Jubba, in yet another dramatic achievement that showcases the ability of the Somali National Army [SNA] to deal with insecurity long after the departure of AU Forces from the country.

Under the Somali Transition Plan [STP], over 22,000 AMISOM troops are scheduled to withdraw from Somalia by the end of 2022, a move which will give room for SNA to take control of many security responsibilities. The US army is also set to vacate the country.

And over the weekend, military reports indicate that Hassan Sufyan Qorey, a top Al-Shabaab commander, was killed in Arabow, a notorious Al-Shabaab stronghold, which is located at least 50 kilometers from Buale town, the regional capital of Middle Jubba.

During the crackdown which was engineered by the Somali National Army, at least six other fighters were killed after a fierce gunfight, reports indicate. The military went on to seize dangerous weapons that were being used by the militants to create havoc in the region.

Buale town is still under the control of the Al-Shabaab and is not far from Jilib, the town believed to be the headquarters of the group. The deceased commander, sources said, was in charge of terrorist attacks in the government-controlled territory and border areas.

This comes barely a fortnight after another Al-Shabaab commander was killed in Lower Shabelle, another region that has been used as the battleground between the Al-Shabaab and the allied security forces, who have managed to control large sections.

According to reports, Mu'ad Dhere, a senior Al-Shabab commander, was killed along with 10 of his protection team after Danab forces stormed his house in Sablale, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, in one of the operations which further shows the capacity of the Somali National Army [SNA].

Dhere had been running Al-Shabaab operations in Lower Shabelle and his death comes after years of man-hunt. Military reports indicate that he was in charge of explosives besides coordinating tax collection which helps run Al-Shabaab activities in the country.

He's the latest Al-Shabaab commander to be eliminated within this year. In August, the security forces killed Abdulkadir Commandos, another notorious Al-Shabaab commander within Lower Shebelle, a region that is prone to frequent Al-Shabaab raids.

According to reports, the Danab Special Forces had responded to a gunfight in the scene when the guards failed to surrender. The guards were protecting his compound at the time the security forces raided the region, with military officials terming the outcome "successful".

The Al-Shabaab militants still remain a major threat in Somalia's quest for stability. The US recently insisted that her troops will continue staying in the Horn of Africa nation despite earlier reports that President Donald Trump wanted to withdraw them.

GAROWE ONLINE