Dhanaane, Somalia — Somalia’s elite Gaashaan unit under the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has successfully destroyed a key Al-Shabaab explosives storage site in a high-risk overnight operation in the Dhanaane area of Lower Shabelle region.
According to security officials, the targeted compound was used by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab to store improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other materials intended for attacks across the region, including Mogadishu.
The intelligence-led operation was conducted in the early hours of Monday and resulted in the complete destruction of the facility.
NISA confirmed that no civilian casualties were reported during the strike, which was carefully coordinated to minimize harm to the surrounding population. A number of militants guarding the compound were neutralized during the raid, though their exact number has not yet been disclosed.
“The successful operation by our Gaashaan unit is part of the ongoing offensive to degrade Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities. We remain committed to eliminating threats to the security of our citizens and our nation,” a senior intelligence officer said on condition of anonymity.
The Gaashaan unit, trained in counterterrorism tactics with international support, has been instrumental in disrupting Al-Shabaab’s logistical and operational networks in recent years. The Dhanaane operation marks a significant blow to the militant group’s ability to launch bomb attacks, particularly in the capital and southern regions.
This latest action comes amid heightened national security efforts as Somali forces continue to reclaim territory from Al-Shabaab and dismantle their infrastructure. The federal government has pledged to maintain pressure on the group, calling for increased cooperation among regional security forces and international partners.
Al-Shabaab, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has waged a brutal insurgency in Somalia for over a decade, frequently targeting civilians, government officials, and military personnel with car bombs, assassinations, and ambushes.
Security analysts believe the destruction of the Dhanaane explosives hub may prevent several planned attacks and disrupt the group’s supply chain, though caution that Al-Shabaab remains a persistent threat.
Authorities have urged residents in liberated and frontline areas to continue cooperating with security agencies by reporting suspicious activity.
