MOGADISHU (SD – Local authorities in southern Somalia have confirmed the arrest of an al-Shabaab senior commander following security operation in Lower Shabelle region.

Marka district commissioner, Abdullahi Ahmed Gafow said the army conducted an operation Thursday evening in the town against Shabab group.

The man identified as Osman Mohamed who was in charge of operations in Marka town for the militants.

“During the operation, Mohamed got injured after his bodyguards attempted to resist the army, but we overpowered them.,” Gafow said.

In the past five days, two al-Shabaab operatives had surrendered themselves to Somali authorities.

The two identified as Idris Abdullahi Moalim and Asad Sharif Abukar aka Ayman were said to have been fighting alongside al-Shabaab fighters for years.

Somali military has recently intensified operations against al-Shabaab fighters in central and southern Somalia.

SNA and Galmudug forces recovered a large number of weapons and communication equipment during the operation in central Somalia.

The government’s Danab elite forces and international partners are also targeting terrorist bases in the region, carrying out three airstrikes within three weeks in central Somalia.