MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Shabaab militants launched a dawn assault on Somali army bases in the town of Awdhegle, approximately 65 kilometers southwest of the capital Mogadishu, state television and militant-affiliated media reported.
The attack, which unfolded on Saturday, saw the terror group overrun government forces, capturing key infrastructure including the town’s main bridge and military barracks.
Somali National Army (SNA) units stationed in the area engaged in intense combat but were forced to retreat after being overpowered. Al-Shabaab released images purporting to show its fighters in control of the town, while a video, allegedly filmed by a resident, depicted smoldering military bases and a deserted town bridge.
Residents in Hawo Abdi and Lafole, neighborhoods just 15 kilometers from Mogadishu’s city center, reported sightings of heavily armed militants and exchanges of gunfire. The militants’ presence near the capital raised concerns about their intent to disrupt reinforcements heading to Awdhegle via the Mogadishu-Afgooye corridor.
However, details regarding the skirmishes and the militants’ movements remain scarce.
In a separate attack, Al-Shabaab targeted Sumadale village near the coastal town of Adale in the Middle Shabelle region, claiming to have killed 19 government soldiers. The group circulated graphic images allegedly depicting the slain soldiers.
Somali state media acknowledged the assault but asserted that the militants had been repelled, though no evidence was provided to substantiate the claim. Military officials have yet to comment on the developments.
These attacks follow weeks of territorial gains by Al-Shabaab in the Middle Shabelle region, where the group has seized swathes of land between Adan Yabal, Adale, Mahaday, and Jowhar.
The advances threaten to undo progress made by Somali forces and allied clan militias during a two-year offensive launched in mid-2022.
Despite hundreds of airstrikes by U.S., Turkish, and Ethiopian forces, the Somali government has struggled to reclaim lost territory.
The recent assaults have heightened fears of Al-Shabaab’s potential advance toward Mogadishu from multiple fronts. While the Somali federal government has dismissed these concerns as exaggerated, the attacks underscore the persistent threat posed by the militant group and the challenges facing Somalia’s security forces in maintaining stability.
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