According to reports from the Hawaadley district in Middle Shabelle province, fierce fighting broke out between the Somali National Army (SNA) and members of the Al-Shabab group, who currently control the district. The fighting, which lasted for several hours, began after government troops launched an assault on Al-Shabab bases in the town. Heavy casualties were reported as the two sides engaged in combat. Government military officers leading the assault claimed to have targeted important Al-Shabab centers and killed many fighters, but these claims are difficult to verify independently. The exact number of casualties has not been publicly revealed. The main objective of the assault is to remove Al-Shabab from Hawaadley and bring the district under government control. In recent days, the Somali government has deployed additional troops to settlements near Bal’ad district to participate in the ongoing operations to drive out Al-Shabab. The strategic importance of Hawaadley is evident in the heavy fighting that has occurred there in the past, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers and officers. Burundian troops were previously stationed in Hawaadley but later withdrew, allowing Al-Shabab to peacefully regain control of the district. Despite the power of AUSSOM to deploy troops to strategic areas, Burundi’s exit and the return of Al-Shabab to Hawaadley highlight the ongoing challenges in stabilizing Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia’s plan is for its troops to fully take control of Hawaadley in order to stabilize the surrounding settlements in Middle Shabelle province. In a separate incident, Al-Shabab launched mortar attacks on the Hiilweyne military training school, where soldiers from the SNA are based in Bal’ad district. Locals in the area reported hearing heavy explosions, but the exact number of casualties is unknown. Al-Shabab claimed to have killed many soldiers in the attack, but this cannot be verified independently.
