Sunday 08, June 2025 {HMC} The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in collaboration with the Somali National Army (SNA) and international partners, has confirmed the killing of three senior al-Shabaab leaders during a joint military operation carried out on June 6, 2025, in the El-Hareri area of the Hiiraan region.
Speaking to Somali National Television on Saturday, Minister of Defense Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the extremist group’s command structure in central Somalia.
Among those killed was Nuur Cabdi Rooble (Nuunuule), the al-Shabaab ringleader responsible for overseeing operations in Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, Mudug, and Galgaduud regions. According to the minister, Rooble succumbed to critical injuries sustained during the air and ground assault.
Also confirmed dead are: Caddaw, the group’s intelligence chief in Galgaduud, known for coordinating internal tracking and surveillance activities. Macallin Cumar, a senior figure in charge of indoctrination and militant training programs for recruits.
The defense minister stated that at least five militants, including the three senior commanders, were killed during the operation. He noted that the federal government is monitoring efforts by al-Shabaab to evacuate wounded fighters from the battlefield.
Local residents in the El-Hareri area reported intense fighting earlier in the week, confirming that the militant group suffered significant losses during the clashes.
The Somali government reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying operations aimed at eliminating al-Shabaab’s leadership and degrading its operational capabilities across the country.
