Among those killed were two brothers, local sources confirmed. The brothers were in the same location when an armed group approached and fatally shot them along with two others who were with them.

This morning, another armed individual carried out an additional killing in the same district. Police forces have begun searching for the perpetrators of these attacks, which are believed to be linked to clan-related revenge killings stemming from previous incidents in the area.

Clan-motivated killings have recently increased in southern and central Somalia. Armed groups organized along clan lines have targeted men, women, and children—sometimes even members of the same extended families.

The post Security Forces Launch Operations in Beled-hawo to Track Down Suspected Killers appeared first on Kaab TV.

The clashes left more than 30 people dead including civilians and dozens more injured, according to local health workers.

The violence also triggered mass displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing the town under heavy shelling and gunfire.

The conflict erupted last week when federal-backed troops under Janan, deployed from Mogadishu, arrived in Beled-Hawo—a town previously under Jubaland administration.

Janan’s forces established a military base on the town’s outskirts, prompting a standoff with regional troops who surrounded the area.

Residents in neighboring Mandera, Kenya, reported that mortar shells landed in residential neighborhoods as a result of the cross-border fighting.

Many of the displaced residents from Beled-Hawo have now taken refuge in Mandera.

Senior Jubaland officials, including Vice President Mahmoud Sayid Adan and Security Minister General Darwish, are currently in Mandera assessing the situation.

Beled-Hawo, a key border town, was previously among the more stable areas in southern Somalia, despite occasional attacks by the al-Shabaab militant group active in surrounding rural areas.

Janan’s Controversial Role

Abdirashid Janan, a former Jubaland Security Minister and District Commissioner of Doolow, has faced serious accusations of human rights abuses.

Rights groups including Amnesty International and UN monitoring bodies have linked him to civilian killings, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and destabilizing peace efforts.

He was arrested by the federal government in 2019 but escaped from house arrest shortly after—an escape he later confirmed publicly.

The Beled-Hawo takeover came just days after Jubaland forces clashed with federal NISA troops in the nearby town of Doolow. Jubaland forces claimed victory in that confrontation.

The Somali federal government has accused Ethiopian troops stationed in Doolow of backing its forces in the fighting—an allegation that has not yet received a response from Ethiopian authorities.

In a statement, Jubaland’s Ministry of Information condemned what it called a “deliberate and hostile” act by Villa Somalia, accusing the federal government of using donor-supplied aircraft to transport troops to Beled-Hawo.

“Jubaland strongly condemns this shameful aggression orchestrated by Villa Somalia,” the statement said.

While Jubaland has not officially commented on Janan’s takeover of Beled-Hawo, sources indicate that its forces are regrouping outside the town, raising fears of a fresh round of conflict.

Why is Gedo a hotspot?  

The ongoing conflict in Gedo stems from a deepening rift between the federal government and Jubaland’s leadership.

Tensions escalated in November 2024 when Mogadishu rejected the re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe).

Since then, the federal government has deployed troops across Gedo in an effort to undermine Jubaland’s authority and install a rival administration.

Jubaland has responded by reinforcing its military presence, leading to recurring clashes in Bardhere, Garbaharey, and Doolow—towns located along the Ethiopian border.

Beled-Hawo now marks the latest and most significant flashpoint in this simmering power struggle between Mogadishu and Kismayo.

The post Abdirashid Janan Forces Seize Beled-Hawo Amid Deadly Clashes with Jubaland appeared first on Kaab TV.

The victims were killed after mortar shells struck residential homes, according to a statement by the Jubaland administration, which blamed the attack on federal troops stationed at the UK military camp on the town’s outskirts.

The renewed clashes come just days after a previous confrontation on Tuesday between Jubaland forces and federal troops brought in from Mogadishu.

Friday’s escalation began after the Somali Federal Government deployed additional Haramcad (Cheetah) special forces—trained by Turkey.

Eyewitnesses told Kaab TV that Jubaland forces, who currently control the town, launched an offensive and surrounded the newly deployed federal troops.

Residents reported the use of heavy artillery and mortar fire, with some shells landing inside the town, causing panic and further displacement of civilians.

One of today’s casualties was a young man named Salim, who was killed after a mortar shell hit their house in the city.

Since Sunday, hundreds of families have fled Beled Hawo in fear of escalating violence.

In a strongly worded statement, the Jubaland administration condemned what it called “a barbaric mortar attack” that killed civilians in their homes.

The statement accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of ordering federal forces to carry out “massacres and displacement of civilians.”

Abdirashid Abdinuur Janan, who recently took charge as the head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), is leading the federal forces in Beled Hawo.

He denied initiating the attack, accusing Jubaland of launching the assault and insisting that his troops acted in self-defense.

“We were attacked by anti-peace militias,” said Janan, adding that he and his troops remain stationed at the UK base.

He also blamed Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe for ordering the offensive.

Tensions rise across Gedo

The clashes mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing standoff between the Somali Federal Government and Jubaland.

Armed reinforcements and militia mobilizations have been reported in other parts of the Gedo region, raising fears of broader conflict.

Local communities have voiced deep concern about the possibility of fighting spreading to nearby areas, which could lead to more civilian casualties and displacement.

In response to the violence, youth sports groups in Beled Hawo released a peace appeal, urging all parties to cease hostilities.

They offered condolences to the families of those killed and injured and warned that continued shelling is endangering innocent lives.

The post Civilians Killed as Fighting Resumes in Kenya-Somalia Border Town of Beled Hawo appeared first on Kaab TV.

The fighting erupted inside the town after Janan’s forces, reportedly airlifted in on two helicopters, advanced towards Beled-Hawo.

Jubaland forces eventually regained full control of the town, while Janan’s fighters retreated to a nearby military base known as “UK Camp.”

Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire and the use of military vehicles during the exchange.

Jubaland authorities stated they had captured ten members of Janan’s force, who were allegedly deployed from Mogadishu.

In a statement, Jubaland’s Ministry of Information accused the Federal Government of orchestrating the attack, claiming government-supplied aircraft were used to transport Janan’s troops.

“Jubaland strongly condemns the heinous actions carried out by Villa Somalia,” the statement read.

The Federal Government, in response, blamed Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) for instigating the violence.

Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security warned against what it called the misuse of armed groups by regional leaders.

“The government issues a stern warning to militias being wrongfully used by Ahmed Madobe,” it said in a statement.

Tensions Remain High

Although the fighting has subsided, tensions remain high in Beled-Hawo.

Residents expressed fears that violence could erupt again, as both sides continue to maintain a military presence in and around the town.

Sources told Kaab TV that Janan remains stationed at the Camp UK with over 200 troops, while Jubaland forces have encircled the area.

Tuesday’s fighting forced many civilians to flee, and local communities fear further displacement if clashes resume.

Jubaland Vice President Mahmoud Sayid Adan, Security Minister Gen. Mohamed Darwish, and senior security officials visited Jubaland positions in the Mandera area today to assess the situation.

Who is Abdirashid Janan?

Abdirashid Abdinuur Janan is a former district commissioner of Doolow and previously served as Jubaland’s Security Minister before falling out with the regional administration.

He has been accused of serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings—some involving women—and obstructing humanitarian aid to starving internally displaced people.

Janan was arrested in Mogadishu in August 2019 on charges related to human rights violations but was later released.

Last week, Janan was appointed by Somalia’s NISA to head the agency’s operations in Jubaland.

The incident reflects deepening tensions between the Jubaland administration and the Federal Government, which have clashed over constitutional reforms and electoral processes.

In recent months, the Federal Government has increased military mobilization in Gedo, seeking to assert control and organize elections in areas traditionally under Jubaland’s influence—moves that have been firmly opposed by regional leaders.

The post Clashes in Beled-Hawo Leave 5 Dead Amid Tensions Between Jubaland and Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

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.

The post Jubbaland Forces Seize Control of Beled-Hawo Following Intense Clashes with Federal Troops appeared first on Kaab TV.

According to local reports, the protestors expressed outrage over the fatal shooting, which was allegedly carried out by a soldier affiliated with the Jubbaland State forces. Witnesses stated that the soldier fled the scene and sought refuge at a Jubbaland military camp located just outside the town.

Community members who spoke to the media demanded justice for the boy, emphasizing that those responsible must be held accountable. Many cited both moral and religious obligations to pursue justice for the victim.

As of now, the district administration and local security authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the incident or the current unrest in Beled Hawo.

The post Protests Erupt in Beled Hawo After Killing of Young Boy appeared first on Kaab TV.