BAIDOA, Somalia – Reports have emerged following a powerful explosion that targeted Ethiopian military forces near the outskirts of Baidoa, the interim capital of Somalia’s South West State, on Sunday night. The blast reportedly caused multiple casualties.
According to local sources, the roadside bomb struck an Ethiopian military convoy traveling outside the city, resulting in at least three soldiers being killed and several others injured. The explosion caused heavy damage to one of the military vehicles in the convoy.
Witnesses reported that the Ethiopian troops later left the scene after securing the area.
As of Monday morning, no official statement has been released by South West State authorities or Ethiopian military officials stationed in Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region.
Militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that its fighters successfully targeted the convoy and inflicted significant casualties, describing the operation as a success.
While Baidoa itself has remained relatively calm in recent months, the surrounding rural areas frequently witness attacks and clashes involving Al-Shabaab militants.
The explosion follows a recent incident in which Al-Shabaab fighters launched a major assault on Burjeed, a village located between Baidoa and Deynunay. Somali National Army and South West State forces maintain military outposts in the area.
Government sources claimed Al-Shabaab suffered heavy losses in that battle, with many of the militants’ bodies later transported to Baidoa, where residents gathered to witness the aftermath.
HORN LIFE
