BALCAD (KAAB TV) – Somali government forces have regained control of the Balcad district after successfully repelling an early morning attack by Al-Shabaab militants.
The assault began when Al-Shabaab fighters executed roadside bombings on military positions at the district’s outskirts before launching a large-scale attack. Militants briefly seized some areas but were driven out following a counterattack by Somali government forces, supported by local rescuers.
Government officials reported that the Somali National Army inflicted significant losses on the attackers. “The Somali National Army has dealt a heavy blow to the Khawarij terrorists who attacked Balcad before dawn,” stated a news release from the Federal Government of Somalia, using a term to describe extremist Islamist groups.
Eyewitnesses indicated that at least ten Al-Shabaab fighters were killed during the battle, with their bodies found scattered in fields surrounding Balcad. Security officials are currently assessing the damage sustained by both government forces and civilians, though the official casualty figures have not yet been confirmed.
This attack follows a series of Al-Shabaab assaults in the Middle Shabelle region in recent weeks, as the militant group continues its insurgency despite an ongoing military operation aimed at eradicating their presence.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has been waging a violent insurgency in Somalia for over 15 years, seeking to overthrow the internationally recognized government.