The Somali National Army (SNA), in coordination with clan militias, carried out a planned security operation last night in the area of Cali Heele, located approximately 30 km west of Masagawaay in the Galgaduud region.
The targeted operation on Monday November, 25, 2025, SNA said, was carefully prepared and executed, “resulting in the killing of Ahmed Sheikh Omar Ado Gacal, a senior commander within the Al-Shabaab militant group.”
According to a press statement seen by Radio Generation, the army said Gacal was the head of Al-Shabaab units operating in Middle Shabelle. It noted that he played a major role in orchestrating attacks against civilians.
The Somali army said the slain commander was involved in coordinating militant movements and organising explosive attacks across the regions of Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan, and Galgaduud.
Al-Shabaab was officially driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 by African Union peacekeepers. The militant group still controls parts of Somalia’s countryside and regularly carries out fatal attacks on the capital.
“He was one of the key figures behind the group’s destabilising activities,” read parts of the statement.
The Ministry of Defence and the Somali National Army Command praised the bravery and sacrifice of the forces involved in the operation.
It reiterated their “commitment to continuing decisive operations against Al-Shabaab until the remaining elements of the group are eradicated.”
Additional details regarding the operation and ongoing security efforts in the region have not been released.
