Heavily armed fighters stormed El Baraf, Al-Kowthar, El Ali Ahmed, Daaru Ne’ma, and Ali Fooldheere, engaging in fierce battles with local clan militias.

The fighting, which began before dawn, lasted until mid-morning when the pro-government Ma’awisley Abgal clan militia retreated.

As the militia withdrew, terrified residents fled their homes, fearing further violence.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks, alleging that 93 people were killed in the assault.

The group also captured seven military vehicles, including those reportedly donated by Egypt to the Somali government.

Eyewitnesses in El Baraf described how militants roamed the streets, questioning locals about the whereabouts of government soldiers.

Photos circulated by the group showed fighters in flip-flops patrolling the town, which had been under government control since it was reclaimed two years ago.

Officials in Hirshabelle, the regional administration based in Jowhar, called the attack a “major terrorist invasion.”

The Somali Ministry of Information later issued a statement asserting that security forces, with support from local fighters, had repelled the offensive, killing over 130 Al-Shabaab militants.

However, the Ministry of Defense declined to comment on Al-Shabaab’s claims of capturing military vehicles and weapons.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab has reportedly increased its patrols along the road between Jowhar and Mogadishu, the capital of Hirshabelle state, which lies 90 kilometers north of the Somali capital.

Civilians traveling on the route say the militants have flooded the main road, forcing transporters and buses to use Al-Shabaab-controlled detours, where heavy extortion is imposed.

While government officials primarily rely on air travel for safety, it remains an inaccessible option for most locals.

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Jalalaqsi District Commissioner, Nuur Dheere, stated that the attack appeared to be clan-related, targeting the men based on their clan identity.

All the victims were members of the Ma’awisley militia from the Hiiraan region.

However, Commissioner Nuur Dheere clarified that the deceased were also Somali National Army personnel.

El Baraf has been the epicenter of recent clan clashes between Hawadle and Abgal militias, further heightening tensions in the area.

Hirshabelle State President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “brutal and un-Islamic act” that violates Somali cultural values and human rights.

“This heinous act goes against Islamic law, Somali morals, and human rights. I am ordering the security forces to bring the perpetrators to justice within 24 hours,” read a statement from the Hirshabelle State Presidency.

President Guudlawe also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and urged the people of Hirshabelle to avoid actions that could undermine community security and unity.

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