Monday, June 23, 2025 – HAN
Baidoa: – Intense fighting broke out early Monday morning on the outskirts of Baidoa, in southwestern Somalia, after Al-Shabaab militants launched a surprise assault on a military base manned by South West State forces.
Local sources from the Baay Burjeed area, where the attack took place, reported that clashes began just before dawn. Witnesses described the use of both heavy and light weaponry, with loud explosions and bursts of gunfire echoing across the region.
Residents in nearby communities said the fighting created a chaotic and tense atmosphere, with artillery shelling and gunfire reverberating through the surrounding villages.
Preliminary reports suggest that both sides have suffered casualties, but the exact number remains unconfirmed. Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the extent of the damage or the toll on personnel.
This latest assault comes just two months after a similar attack by Al-Shabaab on the same military position on April 17, which was successfully repelled by government forces at the time.
Security sources say government troops are currently mounting a strong defense against the attackers, and described the situation on the ground as “fluid and ongoing.”
The renewed violence underscores the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group that continues to target military installations and government positions across southern and central Somalia in its bid to destabilize the nation.
International observers and Somali officials have expressed concern over the group’s continued ability to regroup and carry out large-scale attacks, despite sustained counter-terrorism operations by Somali security forces and allied partners.
More updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
