Mogadishu, August 18: According to the Ministry of Defense, the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) successfully thwarted an attack early Monday morning in the central town of Baidoa, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 Al-Shabaab militants and the capture of several others.
At around 5 AM (0200 GMT), armed individuals used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) mounted on vehicles to assault SNAF checkpoints. The ministry reported that the attacking group included Al-Shabaab extremists and militia loyal to Southwest State President Abdiqajiz Hassan Muhammad Laftagareen.
In a statement, the ministry said, “SNAF responded professionally and decisively, foiling the attackers’ attempt to destabilize the security and stability of Baidoa.” The statement added that military forces seized the weapons and vehicles used in the attack and are conducting clearance operations to secure the town and locate any remaining fighters in parts of Baidoa.
The ministry noted, “Further information regarding the attack and the operation’s outcomes will be provided to the Somali public once the operation is complete.” Somali troops have controlled the town since March, when they captured Baidoa and forced Laftagareen to resign.
Local residents confirmed that intense fighting occurred in Baidoa on Monday morning, with SNAF forces clashing with Laftagareen’s loyal armed militia and Al-Shabaab fighters. Although local opposition leaders claimed to have taken control of the town, military officials dismissed this assertion, confirming that security operations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, with the support of international partners, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reported that eight Al-Shabaab extremists, including three senior commanders, were killed in a targeted operation in the central region on Sunday. According to a statement released by NISA, the joint operation took place in the Tardo area of the Hiran region, resulting in the deaths of three major leaders and five militia members assigned to protect them, while four others were injured.
In a statement from Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, the security agency said, “The counter-terrorism operation successfully eliminated key individuals responsible for regional operational leadership, including the head of the extortion network in eastern Hiran and commanders of the Jabha militia and Fursan wing.”
As a result of the joint operation, several Al-Shabaab strongholds have been recaptured, and their main bases and storage facilities have been destroyed, while soldiers actively search for remaining fighters.
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