Friday February 28, 2025
FILE PHOTO
Baidoa (HOL) – At least five government soldiers were killed Thursday in a landmine explosion in the Madooda area, south of Hudur, the administrative capital of the Bakool region, according to military sources.
The attack targeted a military convoy en route to reinforce South West regional forces engaged in clashes with the militant group Al-Shabaab earlier in the day. The explosion struck one of the vehicles, causing significant casualties, sources confirmed.
South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, calling them "heroes" who died while supporting their comrades in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
"Our operations against Al-Shabaab will continue," Laftagareen said in a statement. He added that during Thursday's battle, government forces seized a significant cache of weapons from the militants and inflicted heavy casualties.
However, he did not disclose the number of militants killed or wounded.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked group, has intensified attacks in the region as government and allied forces step up military offensives aimed at reclaiming territories under militant control.