Heavy fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab militants was reported on Friday morning between the villages of Xaanshigadafer and Hees, near Mahas district in Hiiraan region, as a separate clash in Tardo village a day earlier reportedly left civilians dead and forced residents to flee their homes.
Local sources said government troops and Al-Shabaab fighters exchanged fire using light and heavy weapons in the area between Xaanshigadafer and Hees.
The fighting reportedly followed the deployment of government forces to positions in Hees in recent days as they sought to strengthen their military presence.
Preliminary reports indicate that the latest clashes caused deaths and injuries among the warring sides. However, no independently verified casualty figures were immediately available.
The fighting comes amid continued military activity across parts of Hiiraan, where government forces and Al-Shabaab remain engaged in a prolonged conflict over control of territory.
The latest confrontation follows heavy fighting in Tardo village on Thursday, which reportedly disrupted daily life and left civilians dead.
According to information from the area, the violence began when Al-Shabaab militants allegedly attempted to seize a weapon from a civilian described as a pastoralist.
Residents reportedly came to the man’s assistance, triggering an armed confrontation between local people and the militants.
Osman Dheere, Tardo’s local administrator, said the fighting lasted for several hours and the security situation deteriorated after Al-Shabaab fighters surrounded the village.
He said civilians were killed and other residents fled their homes to escape gunfire and violence. Some displaced families reportedly travelled between 40 and 80 kilometres in search of safer locations.
The fighting also disrupted local commerce and routine movement. Residents who had left home for markets and workplaces reportedly returned or fled the area after the clashes began.
Communities in rural Hiiraan depend heavily on livestock, small-scale trade and movement between neighbouring settlements.
Continued insecurity threatens these livelihoods and can make it difficult for injured people to reach medical facilities when roads and transport links are disrupted.
The displacement has raised concerns about the need for emergency assistance, including shelter, food, clean water and healthcare, particularly if families remain unable to return home.
The fighting in Tardo has also raised questions about recent claims that Al-Shabaab reached a peace agreement with members of the Xawaadle clan in Hiiraan.
The group reportedly circulated claims of an agreement intended to resolve a longstanding dispute with sections of the community. However, Osman Dheere expressed doubts about whether such an agreement had genuinely been reached.
He also questioned videos shared on social media in connection with the alleged deal, suggesting that some could have been fabricated or altered using artificial intelligence (AI).
These claims have not been independently verified. There is currently insufficient confirmed information to establish whether a formal agreement was reached or whether the videos were manipulated using AI.
The reported violence in Tardo underscores the need for reliable information about local reconciliation efforts and the security situation, particularly as communities continue to face the consequences of the conflict.
Osman Dheere has urged Somalia’s federal government and the Hirshabelle administration to respond urgently to the security and humanitarian situation in Tardo.
He called for measures to protect residents and prevent repeated clashes from further worsening living conditions in the area.
The situation could leave displaced families in need of emergency shelter, food, clean water and medical services. Humanitarian access and the protection of civilians are likely to become increasingly important if insecurity persists.
As of the latest available information, comprehensive official figures on deaths and injuries in Tardo, the number of displaced residents and the response from federal and Hirshabelle authorities had not been confirmed.
The clashes near Mahas and the violence in Tardo highlight the continuing security challenges in Hiiraan.
While the fighting near Hees reflects direct confrontations between government forces and Al-Shabaab, the events in Tardo demonstrate how local communities can also become caught up in the violence, with serious consequences for civilian safety, livelihoods and movement.
The situation in the region remains uncertain, and further information is needed to establish the full extent of the casualties, the status of the forces involved and whether additional clashes are likely.
Protecting civilians, verifying reports and ensuring that displaced families can access humanitarian assistance remain urgent concerns.