Somalia’s federal government says its forces have clashed with Al-Shabaab fighters near Leego in Lower Shabelle region, as additional government troops reportedly move towards Buurhakaba district in Bay region amid heightened military activity in southwestern Somalia.
According to preliminary reports, government troops encountered a roadside explosive device before a brief exchange of fire with suspected Al-Shabaab militants who were reportedly lying in wait along their route.
Federal authorities said the fighting inflicted casualties on the militant group, but the number of those killed has not been independently verified.
The troops heading towards Buurhakaba were reportedly led by Abdulle Isaaq, commander of the Somali National Army’s 8th Brigade. Initial accounts indicated that the force was moving towards the area of Owdiinle.
Separately, reports emerged that an explosive device struck troops travelling along the road connecting Owdiinle and Baidoa, near the settlement of Mooshe.
Officials have not provided confirmed details about casualties from that incident or established whether it was directly connected to the clash near Leego.
In a statement, the federal government said its forces had engaged Al-Shabaab fighters who attempted to ambush troops travelling towards Buurhakaba.
Authorities also said soldiers displayed the bodies of individuals they identified as members of the militant group and detained other suspected fighters.
However, the government has not disclosed the total number of people killed or captured, nor has it provided a full account of any casualties among its own forces. Independent confirmation of the competing battlefield claims remains unavailable.
The reported clashes come amid increased military movements along routes linking Lower Shabelle and Bay regions, which are important for the movement of security forces, commercial vehicles and civilians.
In Buurhakaba, reports indicate that government forces that recently claimed control of the town had established defensive positions in the Jamaacada area, approximately 25 kilometres away.
Preliminary information suggests the troops had not yet moved beyond those positions, while additional forces were reportedly heading towards the surrounding area.
The movements are significant for security in Bay region, where roads connecting Buurhakaba, Baidoa and nearby settlements serve as important routes for civilian travel, trade and military operations.
Leego lies along a major road linking Mogadishu with parts of southwestern Somalia. The route is used by commercial transport, civilians and government forces, making roadside explosives and armed clashes a concern for both security and movement.
Such incidents can endanger travellers, disrupt trade and complicate military operations and the delivery of essential services.
Buurhakaba and its surrounding areas also hold strategic importance because of their road connections, keeping developments along routes into the district under close scrutiny.
The full scale of the latest fighting and the extent of casualties on either side remain unclear as authorities have yet to release a comprehensive account of the incidents.