Mahaas (KAAB TV) – Heavy fighting continues to rage on the outskirts of Mahaas district in the Hiran region, as Somali government forces, backed by local militias, engage in intense battles with Al-Shabaab militants.
The fiercest clashes are reported in the Eelgorof area, strategically located between the towns of Mahaas and Bahdo. Al-Shabaab launched a large-scale assault in this area, attempting to destabilize the region and regain control. However, joint government and community defense forces mounted a strong counteroffensive, successfully repelling the militant group’s initial attack after a decisive and prolonged battle.
According to sources on the ground, Al-Shabaab fighters have since regrouped and are continuing their assault. They are said to be heavily armed, utilizing a variety of weapons in an effort to reclaim lost ground. The fighting remains ongoing, with both sides exchanging heavy fire near the district boundaries.
Government military officials reported that several Al-Shabaab combatants, including some of their field commanders, were killed during the clashes. The Somali army has vowed to continue operations until the area is fully secured, and reinforcements are being deployed to bolster frontline troops engaged in the fighting.
“The situation remains tense. Our forces are maintaining strong defensive positions around Mahaas and are determined to hold the district,” a military spokesperson told KAAB TV. “We have eliminated a number of Al-Shabaab leaders who were directing the assault.”
This latest round of fighting follows an earlier offensive carried out by Somali government troops and allied local militias on Thursday. That operation targeted Al-Shabaab fighters who had been amassing in Eelgorof in preparation for attacks. During that preemptive strike, several militant hideouts were destroyed, and the insurgents suffered significant losses.
A statement from the Somali government confirmed the operation, stating:
“A serious military campaign against the Khawarij [a term often used to describe Al-Shabaab] is currently underway in the Eelgorof area of the Galgaduud region. The operation is focused on rooting out conspirators who had been hiding in the area and preparing for violence.”
Mahaas district has become a key flashpoint in recent weeks. Following Al-Shabaab’s loss of the nearby Moqokori district—previously a stronghold where they resisted the Hawadle community forces—the group appears determined to regroup and retaliate in surrounding areas, particularly in the Hiran and Galgaduud regions.
These developments come amid a broader military mobilization across the Galmudug and HirShabelle regional states, where Somali forces have intensified their campaign to eliminate Al-Shabaab presence and reclaim territory under militant control.
The ongoing conflict reflects the Somali government’s renewed efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities, with support from local communities determined to resist extremist influence in their regions.