IED leaves three dead in Baidoa as SNA troops crush Al-shabaab in Middle Shebelle
BAIDOA, Somalia | An improvised explosive device [IED] left three civilians dead in Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of the southwestern state on Friday, state media reported in another round of attacks targeting innocent people in Somalia.
The blast, authorities said, targeted a Khat market in central Baidoa, leaving three civilians dead and dozens injured. The injured have been taken to various hospitals in the southwest for urgent treatment, police say.
“Three civilians were killed and thirteen others injured in a bomb blast near the city of Baidoa. Preliminary reports say the blast. An improvised explosive device appeared in a khat market in the city center,” state media reported.
It is not clear who the attackers are targeting, but such attacks are synonymous with the al-Shabaab militants, who control large parts of rural Somali and southern Somalia. Al-Shabaab’s militants have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack comes at the time Ethiopia’s national defense force [ENDF] plans a major attack on the militants in the coming weeks before their withdrawal following the implementation of the Somali Transitional Plan [STP], which will see AMISOM troops hand over security responsibilities to Somalia’s National Army [SNA].
The blast also comes just a day after Somalia’s top leadership signed a pre-election pact that would see elections held within the next sixty days. In the past, political leaders were generous that Al-Shabaab militants should be crushed by December 2022.
The al-Qaeda-linked group has wreaked havoc in the country, mainly targeting security forces, senior government officials and even innocent civilians. The United Nations on Tuesday described the group as “dangerous clothing” in a statement issued by UN envoy to Somalia James Swan.
Meanwhile, the Somali National Army crushed Al-Shabaab militants in Gallabashiir village in Middle Shebelle on Friday, state media said, noting that at least 15 militants were killed and several others injured during the operation.
During the operation, a senior commander told state media that the terrorist group suffered huge losses, including but not limited to the destruction of their bases and the confiscation of their combat equipment.
“Somali national army killed 15 members of al-Shabab in security operations in the village of Gallabashiir, in the central region. SNA commanders say terrorists suffered a huge loss in operations. The SNA destroyed Shabab bases and recovered weapons as operations continue.”
The al-Shabaab militants, who are notorious for responding to such reports, have not yet provided the information. Somalia has been fighting to restrict militants since 2007, when it first struck the Horn of Africa.
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