Somalia: Special Forces Commander Killed in Clash with Al-Shabaab

ABOOREY, Somalia – A senior Somali military officer was killed Tuesday in a fierce clash between government forces and Al-Shabaab militants in the Aboorey area of Hiiraan region, security sources said.

Colonel Asad Osman Afrah, commander of the U.S.-trained Danab Special Forces’ 164th unit, died during the intense fighting, which left several soldiers dead, according to officials. Somali forces eventually repelled the militants and regained control of the area by late afternoon.

The battle underscores the ongoing toll on Somalia’s military leadership in its war against Al-Shabaab. Colonel Afrah’s death follows the assassination of Colonel Nur Farey, head of the Somali National Army’s 14th October Division, who was gunned down Saturday near Afgooye by a civilian assailant.

Both officers were key figures in the government’s offensive against the Islamist group, launched by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in 2022. Their deaths mark a significant blow to the campaign, which has seen a series of losses among high-ranking commanders.

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has waged a deadly insurgency in Somalia for nearly two decades, targeting military and civilian targets alike.

GAROWE ONLINE