Mogadishu, April 4 (NationPress) - In a significant operation, Somali security forces, with the support of international allies, successfully eliminated nine al-Shabaab militants in coordinated strikes in southern Somalia, according to statements from officials on Saturday.

The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reported that the operations, executed in the town of Kunyo Barrow and the Tugarey area of the Lower Shabelle region, also led to the destruction of six generators utilized by the militants to produce mines and explosives.

“These planned operations are integral to our ongoing campaign to dismantle terrorist bases and disrupt the operations of al-Shabaab, aimed at preventing future terrorist attacks,” NISA stated in its announcement.

In the first phase of the operation in Kunyo Barrow, an al-Shabaab facility housing substantial machinery for mine and explosive production was targeted, resulting in the death of six militants, as reported by Xinhua. Additionally, three more militants were neutralized during an operation in the Tugarey area, where they had taken refuge in the forest.

Though the al-Shabaab extremist organization was expelled from the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011, they remain active in rural regions, conducting ambushes and laying landmines.

On the preceding Friday, the African Union mission announced the capture of a senior al-Shabaab commander during a joint operation in the southern region. The suspect, identified as Salaad Cusmaan Macalin (also known as Sahm), was apprehended on Thursday at the northwestern outskirts of Mubarak.

“Initial interrogation results suggest that one of his associates, identified as Ismaaciil, a Kenyan national, had volunteered for a suicide mission as part of a planned attack,” AUSSOM stated.

AUSSOM reported that Salaad, aged 40, was captured while surveying defensive positions for an upcoming assault. He was accompanied by a contingent of fighters, including 17 foreign militants recently dispatched from al-Shabaab's command center in Jilib, located in the Middle Juba region. Another individual linked to the group, recognized as Salman, managed to escape during the operation.

Having joined al-Shabaab in 2009, Salaad is regarded as a key operational leader involved in strategizing and executing militant operations, particularly in and around Mogadishu.

AUSSOM Sector One Commander Jackson Kayanja commended the collaborative forces for this successful operation, highlighting their vigilance and professionalism. Kayanja also encouraged local leaders and communities to actively assist security forces in combating terrorist threats and fortifying stability throughout Somalia.