Somalia, 12 October 2025 — The Somali government has announced that a senior Al-Shabaab commander was killed in a special operation in the Mabaah area of Hiraan region on Sunday night.
A statement released by Somali National Television identified the commander as Ali Ahmed Gure, also known as Ali Qoyane.The government described him as one of Al-Shabaab’s most dangerous leaders, accusing him of orchestrating numerous attacks targeting civilians in Hiraan region. Somali security officials promised to provide a detailed report on the operation at a later date.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate Al-Shabaab militants still operating in parts of Hiraan. The region has seen recurring clashes between Somali government forces and the militant group. The region is also remembered for the Macawisley uprising, a community-led resistance movement that emerged during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s early months in office.