In one of the most decisive counterterrorism operations of 2025, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)–in coordination with undisclosed international allies–successfully dismantled a major Al-Shabaab command center and weapons depot in the Howlwadaag neighborhood of Aden Yabaal, Middle Shabelle region. The high-precision raid has struck a critical blow to the operational core of the militant group known as the Khawarij.
According to NISA officials, the targeted compound was serving as both a leadership hub and arms cache, where senior Al-Shabaab commanders had convened for a covert strategy meeting. The mission, initiated in the early hours of Thursday night, followed weeks of surveillance and advanced intelligence gathering, culminating in a violent gun battle and a massive explosion that reverberated across the district.
“The magnitude of the blast confirmed what intelligence had suggested–this was not only a leadership node but a dangerous storage point for heavy arms and explosives,” a NISA spokesperson said.
- Howlwadaag, Aden Yabaal district, Middle Shabelle
- Night of June 26-27, 2025
- NISA forces, with support from international partners
- Targeted strike on Al-Shabaab leadership and arms depot
- Coordinated assault involving ground troops and aerial surveillance
The clandestine meeting of senior Al-Shabaab figures turned deadly as elite Somali forces, armed with pinpoint intelligence, launched a surprise assault on the compound. As militants returned fire, an explosion–likely triggered by the ignition of stored explosives–engulfed the site, causing significant structural damage and eliminating key insurgents.
- Over a dozen militants killed, including high-ranking leaders (names to be released post-verification).
- Multiple combat vehicles, heavy weapons, and tactical gear destroyed.
- Command hub and weapons depot obliterated, significantly impairing Al-Shabaab’s logistics in the region.
Video footage of the operation’s aftermath has already been shared across Somali national media, showing charred vehicles, destroyed infrastructure, and abandoned militant paraphernalia.
Aden Yabaal has long been considered a strategic nerve center for Al-Shabaab in central Somalia, serving as a conduit for supplies, fighters, and planning cells. This operation sends a clear message: the Somali government, empowered by improved intelligence capabilities and tactical cooperation with global partners, is escalating its offensive against extremist factions.
“This mission reflects the government’s intensified strategy of precision strikes–targeting not just fighters, but the infrastructure that sustains terror,” said a military analyst based in Mogadishu.
While official sources have not confirmed the identities of the international forces involved, aerial reconnaissance and strike coordination suggest the likely participation of drone assets, possibly from U.S. AFRICOM or Turkey’s expanding regional support footprint.
Such multilateral operations highlight the deepening security cooperation between Somalia and its global allies, particularly in counter-insurgency and border control missions aimed at eroding Al-Shabaab’s mobility and leadership cohesion.
The Somali government has reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terror networks, especially in volatile regions like Middle Shabelle and Galmudug. Officials say more targeted missions are being planned to systematically dismantle remaining insurgent strongholds.
“Every operation brings us closer to a Somalia that is stable, unified, and free from extremist violence,” said a senior NISA commander.
As the dust settles in Aden Yabaal, the symbolic and tactical weight of this operation will likely ripple through Al-Shabaab’s ranks, complicating their leadership structure and disrupting ongoing plots.
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Somalia,
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