In a tragic incident on Tuesday, Al Shabab gunmen attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, killing at least seven people, including local clan elders and their guards. The attack occurred while the elders and government officials were convening to discuss strategies against the Islamist militant group.
The Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for the assault, asserting that it had killed over ten individuals. Eyewitness Ali Suleiman, a shopkeeper, reported that the attackers breached the hotel entrance by detonating explosives.
Clan elder Abdullahi Fidow shared the devastating news, stating, “So far, seven people, including clan elders and their guards, all of them my relatives, died in the hotel. Parts of the hotel are ablaze now, and it is not clear if the operation is concluded or not.” He added that some reports suggested the fighting continued in nearby buildings, raising concerns that the death toll could increase due to ongoing blasts and gunfire.
Following the initial assault, government forces were deployed to eliminate any remaining Al Shabab fighters. Dahir Amin Jesow, a federal lawmaker from Beledweyne, confirmed that some militants had been killed in nearby alleys during the operation.
In a separate conflict, at least ten people, including eight Al Shabab fighters, were killed in fighting in the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia, according to military officer Ali Farah.
The Somali National News Agency reported that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was at Mogadishu airport to welcome soldiers who had been wounded in the violent clashes. The ongoing violence underscores the persistent threat posed by Al Shabab as it seeks to destabilize the region and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
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