(22-09-23) MOGADISHU — Isaaq Abdullahi Mohamed Afey, a high-ranking Al-Shabaab leader and adviser to the group’s former emir, Ahmed Godane, was confirmed killed in a targeted airstrike by Somalia’s Ministry of Defence on Friday. The operation unfolded 8 kilometres north of Bur Coday, near Wajid District within the Bakool Region.
Afey, a founding member of the extremist organisation, had been overseeing Al-Shabaab’s re-radicalisation activities in the Bakool Region. The Somali government had designated him as a wanted individual for his involvement in a host of atrocities.
The Ministry released a statement clarifying, “Isaaq Abdullahi, leader of the Khawarij responsible for militia operations in Bakool Region, and his seven bodyguards were eliminated in a targeted airstrike in Wajid District. Isaaq, who was wanted for committing atrocities, is no more.”
The airstrike also resulted in the loss of seven other lives accompanying Afey. The confirmed casualties encompass his wife, two children, an aunt, and the vehicle’s driver.
According to military sources, the lethal action was the outcome of intensive intelligence gathering. Afey had been subjected to heightened surveillance before the strike, with military intelligence tracking his movements closely. At the time of the airstrike, he was en route from Tiyeeglow and was grappling with a previous leg injury that affected his mobility.
Though unconfirmed officially, sources suggest that the airstrike was carried out by a US drone. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has yet to release any formal comment on the operation.
The death of Isaaq Abdullahi Mohamed Afey is perceived as a significant blow to Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities in the region. Investigations are ongoing, and additional updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Halqabsi News
