In a devastating assault on Tuesday, Al-Shabaab militants targeted a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, where a crucial meeting was underway to strategize against the Islamist group. Security sources report that the attack led to the deaths of nine civilians, including traditional elders, as gunmen employed an explosives-laden vehicle to breach the hotel entrance before opening fire on those inside.
The assault occurred about 300 kilometers (190 miles) from Mogadishu, the nation’s capital. Security official Hussein Ali confirmed that all the attackers were neutralized during the incident, but did not provide specific figures regarding the number of militants killed. He did, however, indicate that more than ten additional individuals, primarily civilians, sustained injuries during the chaotic firefight.
The hotel in question was serving as a gathering place for traditional leaders and military officials who were convened to reinforce efforts in combating Al-Shabaab and supporting the Somali government’s initiatives against the group. Eyewitness Idris Adan recounted the terror of the moment, revealing that his brother-in-law was inside the hotel during the attack but managed to escape with minor injuries. Adan described the scene, noting the intense gunfire and significant destruction inflicted upon the building.
Al-Shabaab swiftly took responsibility for the attack, underscoring its long-standing campaign against the Somali federal government, which has been ongoing for more than fifteen years. Despite being ousted from the capital by African Union forces in 2011, the group continues to maintain a stronghold in rural regions, posing a persistent threat to stability in the country.
In response to the escalating violence, Somalia’s president has vowed to wage an all-out war against Al-Shabaab. The Somali army, in collaboration with local militias and supported by African Union forces and U.S. airstrikes, is actively engaged in a military campaign aimed at dismantling the group’s operations and restoring peace to the nation.
