NISA Operation in Hiiraan Eliminates Five Al-Shabaab Militants

MOGADISHU: The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in collaboration with international partners, executed a planned intelligence-driven operation in the Tardo area of the Hiiraan region, resulting in the deaths of five Al-Shabaab militants and the destruction of hideouts, logistical facilities and equipment used by the group for terrorist activities.

According to NISA, the operation was preceded by intelligence reports indicating approximately 25 militants, including both fighters and senior operatives, had assembled in the area to organize attacks aimed at destabilizing security and disrupting civilian life in Hiiraan. Security forces specifically targeted militant hideouts, inflicting substantial losses that hindered the group’s movements and operational planning. The raid also destroyed facilities and logistical equipment used to transport and support the extremists.

Continuous Operations to Dismantle Al-Shabaab Networks

NISA stated that the operation represents continuing efforts to pursue and dismantle Al-Shabaab networks, bases, and operational capabilities throughout Somalia. The agency noted that this raid is part of continuous operations focused on reducing the group’s operational capabilities across the country. The Hiiraan region has served as a significant battleground in Somalia’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab, with government forces and allied clan militias carrying out sustained offensives against the militant group over the past two years.

The federal government has enhanced intelligence-led operations in central and southern regions as part of a comprehensive strategy combining military offensives, local community mobilization, and efforts to disrupt the group’s financial and logistical networks. The Tardo area itself holds strategic significance in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. Tardo was previously liberated from Al-Shabaab control in late 2022 during a major offensive by the Somali National Army and local communities. The governors of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle have previously met in Tardo to coordinate offensives and consolidate security gains in the volatile border corridor between the two regions.

Recent Surge in Intelligence-Led Raids

The Tardo operation adds to a growing list of successful NISA raids in Hiiraan. In July 2025, NISA neutralized seven Al-Shabaab militants in the Buulo-Xoog area of Hiiraan, striking a known hideout and disrupting a cell planning attacks against civilian and military targets. In February 2026, NISA announced the elimination of over 23 Al-Shabaab militants in synchronized intelligence-driven operations across the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, destroying major militant strongholds and thwarting several imminent attacks.

Leadership Commitment to Counter-Terrorism

The NISA leadership has been actively engaged in accelerating counter-terrorism efforts in HirShabelle state. NISA Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has held high-level meetings in Moqokori, Hiiraan, with HirShabelle’s deputy leader and local military officials, focusing on strengthening security and enhancing stability. Sanbaloolshe traveled to Moqokori town to boost the morale of frontline troops following a major military success near Aadan Yabaal, where Somali forces killed over 70 Al-Shabaab fighters.

NISA has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism across Somalia and protecting citizens from extremist threats. The agency continues to urge local residents to share information to help thwart future attacks, emphasizing that community support remains a critical pillar in the broader national counter-terrorism effort.