MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s military said on Thursday it had recaptured the strategic town of Wargaadhi in the Middle Shabelle region hours after Al-Shabaab militants overran a military base there during a pre-dawn assault.
The Islamist group, which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the federal government, launched a coordinated attack on a base housing U.S.-trained Danab special forces. The assault briefly gave the militants control of the base and an adjacent airstrip.
Propaganda images released by Al-Shabaab showed its fighters inside the base, alongside captured military vehicles and weapons, and the bodies of fallen Somali soldiers.
Somali military official told Dalsan TV that government troops launched a swift counterattack, reclaiming the town and driving the militants out. The army spokesman said those responsible for disseminating the images were among the casualties. The operation was reportedly supported by drone strikes targeting militants after they seized the town.
In a statement, Somalia’s federal government said more than a dozen insurgents were killed in the fighting and asserted that Wargaadhi was now under full government control.
However, Al-Shabaab issued a counterclaim, insisting its fighters remained in control of the town and had seized a significant cache of weapons. The group released additional images purporting to show its fighters holding the base and displaying military hardware.
Independent verification of either side’s claims remains elusive, as access to the conflict zone in central Somalia is restricted and reporting conditions remain hazardous.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
