Al Shabab gunmen attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, killing at least seven people, including clan elders and guards. The group claimed responsibility for the assault, while ongoing violence and government operations against militants are reported. Additional fighting in Middle Shabelle region led to further casualties, highlighting the country’s persistent instability.
On Tuesday, Al Shabab gunmen launched a deadly assault on a hotel in Beledweyne, Central Somalia, resulting in the fatalities of at least seven individuals. This attack transpired during a crucial meeting involving local elders and government officials who were strategizing on how to counteract the Islamist militant group, according to an elder’s statement. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group asserted responsibility for the attack and reported higher casualties, claiming more than ten fatalities.
Witnesses reported that the assailants gained entry by detonating explosives at the hotel’s entrance. Ali Suleiman, a shopkeeper, corroborated this account, detailing the violence that ensued within the establishment. Al Shabab is notorious for its recurrent violent operations in Somalia, aimed at dismantling the government and enforcing its rigid interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
Clan elder Abdullahi Fidow lamented the loss, 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 further warned that the death toll might escalate due to ongoing blasts and gunfire.
Following the attack, government forces commenced operations to eliminate the remaining Al Shabab fighters, with reports indicating that some assailants had been neutralized in adjacent alleys, as stated by federal lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow. In a related incident in Middle Shabelle region, military officer Ali Farah confirmed the deaths of at least ten individuals, comprised of eight Al Shabab fighters during separate clashes.
Simultaneously, Somali National News Agency reported that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was at Mogadishu airport receiving wounded soldiers from the ongoing conflict. This series of events reflects the persistent instability and violence in Somalia, exacerbated by militant activities.
The recent attack by Al Shabab in Beledweyne has resulted in significant loss of life and reflected the ongoing violence in Somalia stemming from the militant group’s continuous efforts to undermine the government. With government forces actively responding to the attackers and additional clashes reported in other regions, the situation remains precarious. The Somali authorities and local communities continue to grapple with the consequences of such militant actions as they work to restore stability.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
