MOGADISHU, Somalia — Al-Shabaab militants launched a coordinated attack early Tuesday on the town of Masaajid Ali Gaduud in the Middle Shabelle region, targeting Somali government forces and allied local fighters with explosions and gunfire before seizing control of the area.
According to local sources, the attack began with vehicle-borne explosive devices hitting military positions, followed by intense ground combat. The militant group, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for years, claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement, saying its fighters had overrun the town and were conducting further operations.
A spokesperson for the HirShabelle regional administration, Da’ud Haji Cirro, confirmed that government forces withdrew from the area but vowed that the militants would not hold it for long. “If they spend the night there, our forces will reclaim it,” he said in a brief statement.
The exact number of casualties remains unclear, but local residents reported significant losses on both sides. Military sources said operations were underway to retake the town, which had been under government control for the past two years following a major offensive against Al-Shabaab.
The attack comes as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in the nearby town of Cadale, leading military efforts against Al-Shabaab in the Middle Shabelle region. The group frequently carries out early-morning raids on military bases, often using suicide bombers and guerrilla tactics to inflict heavy casualties.
The Somali government has intensified its military campaign against Al-Shabaab in recent months, aiming to reclaim territory and weaken the group’s hold in central and southern Somalia.
HORN LIFE
