Baidoa (KAAB TV) – Intense fighting broke out on the outskirts of Baidoa, the administrative capital of the South West State, following an early morning assault by Al-Shabaab militants on a Somali National Army (SNA) base in the Barujeed area.
The clash occurred approximately ten kilometers from Baidoa, in the Bay region, a strategically significant zone due to its proximity to key government and military installations.
According to military officials, Al-Shabaab fighters launched a coordinated attack on the army outpost in Barujeed, attempting to overrun the base. However, the Somali forces responded swiftly, repelling the offensive and inflicting heavy casualties on the militant group.
“The army successfully defended the base and neutralized several Al-Shabaab militants,” said one officer who spoke to KAAB TV under condition of anonymity. “Our forces remain in full control of Barujeed and the surrounding areas.”
The Barujeed area is considered a vital defensive line for Baidoa, which currently serves as the transitional capital of the South West Regional Government. Military officials emphasized that the region remains under tight security and that further operations are underway to ensure the area remains secure.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of Al-Shabaab activity in the Bay region, where the group has recently intensified its efforts to destabilize government-held territories. Despite these attempts, the Somali National Army continues to assert its presence and defend key strategic locations.
Authorities have urged local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as security operations continue in the area.