Wednesday April 16, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) — Al-Shabaab militants launched a coordinated attack on the village of Haamcaduur in central Somalia’s Galgaduud region early Tuesday, triggering hours of intense fighting with local defence forces, residents and security sources said.

The militants attacked from multiple directions in the early morning hours, targeting the village near Qaayib. Local community fighters responded immediately, and both sides exchanged heavy fire in a clash that witnesses described as among the fiercest in recent weeks. Gunfire and explosions were reportedly audible several kilometres from the village.

While casualty figures remain unconfirmed, local reports suggest there were fatalities and injuries on both sides. Officials have not yet released a formal statement on the extent of the damage or casualties.

Haamcaduur lies on one of the frontlines of Somalia’s broader campaign against Al-Shabaab, a militant group linked to al-Qaeda that has waged an insurgency for over a decade. In recent weeks, the Somali National Army, backed by allied local militias, has intensified military operations across Galgaduud and neighbouring regions to push the militants out of rural strongholds.

Qaayib and surrounding areas have witnessed repeated clashes as government forces aim to consolidate gains and restore civilian control. Al-Shabaab, despite losing ground in conventional battles, continues to mount hit-and-run attacks and ambushes, using guerrilla tactics to destabilize recovered territories.

Security analysts warn that coordination between federal forces and local militias may falter without sustained support, allowing the group to regroup and reclaim lost ground. The federal government has emphasized the importance of community involvement in the counterinsurgency campaign, calling it a “national resistance” against extremist violence.