Al Shabaab Gunmen Assault Hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia: Ongoing Siege and Casualties

Gunmen from Al Shabaab attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, during a meeting of local leaders, resulting in at least four deaths. The militant group claimed responsibility, stating they killed over ten individuals. Witnesses described the violence and ongoing siege, underscoring the persistent threat of terrorism in the region.

On Tuesday, gunmen assaulted a hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, where local elders and government officials had convened. Witnesses reported that the attackers laid siege to the venue. Federal lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow confirmed the death of at least four individuals, while government forces engaged the assailants, resulting in fatalities among the fighters in adjacent areas.

The militant group Al Shabaab asserted responsibility for the attack through a statement, claiming that they had killed more than ten individuals. Abdullahi Fidow, a clan elder, noted that the meeting aimed to devise strategies against Al Shabaab’s influence in the region. “I was supposed to attend the meeting but got delayed because I was busy with a family issue,” he recounted to Reuters, revealing that the explosions occurred prior to his arrival.

Al Shabaab, affiliated with Al Qaeda, consistently conducts bombings and shootouts in Somalia, attempting to overthrow the government and impose its rigid interpretation of Sharia law. “We first heard a huge blast followed by gunfire, then another blast was heard,” remarked Ali Suleiman, a local shopkeeper who witnessed the violence. The attack severely damaged parts of the Qahira Hotel as government troops and insurgents exchanged gunfire, according to Suleiman’s account.

Halima Nur, a nearby resident, described the continuing siege, stating that intermittent gunfire could still be heard as the situation escalated.

In conclusion, the recent terrorist attack by Al Shabaab on a hotel in Beledweyne highlights the ongoing violence in Somalia, as the group seeks to destabilize the region and advance its extremist agenda. Eyewitness accounts detail the chaos resulting from the assault, while local officials express the urgency of addressing the threats posed by such militant factions.

Original Source: thesun.my