On Sunday morning, Al-Shabab militants launched multiple mortar rounds near Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, disrupting international flights to Somalia, according to a security official who spoke to AFP. This attack follows a recent roadside bomb blast that narrowly missed the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with Al-Shabab claiming responsibility for that incident as well.
Security sources reported that the mortars were fired from the outskirts of Mogadishu, landing in an open area of the airport. “There were about two to three mortar shells that struck an open area of the airport early this morning,” the official, who requested anonymity, stated.
In response to the attack, a Turkish plane scheduled to land at the airport was rerouted to Djibouti, and EgyptAir also canceled its flights for the day, according to an airport employee who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
The heavily fortified Halane camp, which houses the United Nations, various aid agencies, foreign missions, and the headquarters of the UN-backed African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS), was also targeted in the shelling. ATMIS spokesman Lt. Col. Said Mwachinalo confirmed the incident, stating, “There has been shelling. Our team is currently on the ground making assessments.”
So far, no casualties have been reported, and some operations at the airport appear to be continuing, according to the security official. The Somali government has not yet commented on the attack.
Al-Shabab has been engaged in a violent struggle against the federal government in Somalia for over 15 years, and analysts indicate that the group has become an increasingly serious threat in recent months. The latest attacks have raised concerns about a potential resurgence of the jihadist militia, which could undermine the progress made by the Somali government and its international partners over the years.
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