MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – At least 10 mortar shells struck Somali security force bases in the strategic town of Afgoye, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, as Al-Qaeda-linked militants intensify their offensive in the region.
The barrage caused multiple casualties, including soldiers and officers, among them a high-ranking military official identified as Hussein Haji Mohamed.
Unverified reports suggest that Banadir regional police commander Moalim Mahdi was present in the targeted area at the time of the attack. Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group waging a prolonged insurgency in Somalia, swiftly claimed responsibility for the assault.
The attack underscores the group’s growing threat in the area after seizing three nearby towns in recent weeks. Security analysts fear Afgoye—a vital agricultural hub and a critical gateway to Mogadishu—could be Al-Shabaab’s next major target.
The militants have already escalated their presence along the key road linking Afgoye to the capital, establishing illegal checkpoints to search vehicles in a brazen show of force.
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