The Somali authorities have confirmed the death of the intelligence head of the jihadist group Al Shabaab, Abdulahi Hashi Hirshi Labayir, in an operation carried out on August 23 in collaboration with "international partners" in the Middle Juba region, in the south of the country.
The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA, for its acronym in English) has detailed on social media that Labayir, known as 'Ijlas', joined Al Shabaab in 2006 and was appointed in 2013 as the top head of the organization's intelligence services, linked to the terrorist network Al Qaeda.
In its statement, NISA emphasized that the leader "played an important role in gathering information, planning, and coordinating the extremists' plans," in addition to recalling that "he was one of the bloodthirsty who has long tormented the Somali people." "He was accused of atrocities against civilians," the agency added.
The intelligence service has stressed that "his assassination represents a blow to the leadership and intelligence capabilities of the extremists," although it has not provided further information on the specific development of the operation or on the countries that participated in it. For the moment, Al Shabaab has also not issued comments on the death of its intelligence chief.
In parallel, the Ministry of Defense of Somalia has reported the start of "a major operation" against Al Shabaab in the vicinity of the town of Basra, on the border between the Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle states, in the south of the country, and has indicated that two unidentified "senior officials" of the group are already among the deceased in this new offensive.
The Ministry has emphasized on social media that "operations to dismantle Al Shabaab and liberate the affected areas will continue until the threat posed by terrorist groups is eliminated and the Somali people can live in lasting peace and security," while highlighting the role of the security forces and the Army in the fight against the extremist group.
Al Shabaab, associated with the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, has intensified its attacks in recent months and has managed to take control of areas north of Mogadishu, despite the reinforcement of military operations by the Somali government with the support of clans and local militias, as part of the strategy promoted by President Hasán Sheij Mohamud.