Beled-Hawo (KAAB TV) — The Jubbaland regional government has announced that its forces have taken full control of Beled-Hawo, the administrative center of the Beled-Hawo district in the Gedo region, following a fierce battle earlier today with Somali Federal Government troops.
According to an official statement released by Jubbaland authorities, the city is now firmly under their control. The announcement comes in the aftermath of a violent confrontation sparked by the unexpected landing of two military helicopters carrying high-ranking Somali government officials and soldiers. Among them was Abdirashid Janan, a former Jubbaland Minister of Security who now serves as the Chief of Security for the Federal Government in the Gedo region.
The arrival of Janan and federal forces appears to have triggered the confrontation, which quickly escalated into heavy fighting within the town. Multiple sources confirmed that both sides employed a wide range of military weaponry during the engagement, though specific details remain scarce.
“The entire city of Beled-Hawo is now under the control of the Jubbaland forces,” stated the official release. “Some of the armed men who were destabilizing the security of the area have been arrested, while Jubbaland forces are pursuing others who fled the scene, including Abdirashid Janan, who landed earlier this morning aboard a military aircraft.”
While the Jubbaland government has not released detailed information about casualties, preliminary reports suggest that at least five soldiers from both sides were killed. Numerous civilians are also reported to have sustained injuries, though exact figures are yet to be confirmed.
Despite the tense atmosphere, current reports from Beled-Hawo indicate that the city is calm, with no active fighting taking place. However, residents remain fearful of renewed clashes, given the unresolved political and military tensions between Jubbaland and the Federal Government.
The recent escalation highlights the fragile nature of Somalia’s security landscape, particularly in the Gedo region, which has long been a flashpoint for conflict between regional and federal forces.