Somalia, 21 May 2026 – Somalia’s intelligence agency NISA said on Thursday that 26 Al Shabaab fighters were killed in operations in the central Hiraan region targeting militant gathering points, weapons facilities and infrastructure.
The operations were conducted in Mahas, Mukayle, and Shaw in coordination with international partners, NISA said in a statement.
The first operation targeted militants gathered near Mahas district, killing 14 Al Shabaab fighters and destroying shelters used by the group for mobilisation.
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A separate operation in Mukayle killed nine fighters, including a man identified by NISA as Al Shabaab’s deputy commander in the area. The agency said 16 other militants were wounded during the raid.
In Shaw, three individuals described as the group's technical specialists were killed and weapons storage facilities destroyed.
The operations come as Somali government forces, supported by international partners, continue military campaigns against Al Shabaab in parts of central and southern Somalia.