Al Shabaab militants clashed with Somali forces on Thursday over a critical military base in central Somalia, as the al-Qaeda-linked group sought to expand its territorial gains.
The base, located in Wargaadhi town in the Middle Shabelle region, is strategically important, as it sits along a major road connecting the capital Mogadishu to Galmudug State. The capture of this base would give al Shabaab control over a vital supply route.
Al Shabaab claimed in a statement that its fighters had taken control of both the base and the town, a claim the Somali government denied. According to the Ministry of Information, government forces killed over 40 militants during the attack. However, army officer Hussein Ali reported that the militants had seized Wargaadhi after intense fighting, with government forces suffering 12 casualties, mostly from clan militias. Around 20 al Shabaab fighters were reportedly killed.
Ali stated that al Shabaab had brought in reinforcements, which eventually allowed them to take the town. Despite air support, Somali forces struggled to send reinforcements due to the presence of al Shabaab fighters along key routes.
The fighting is part of a broader offensive by al Shabaab, which launched an attack on the town of Adan Yabal last week. The insurgents briefly captured several villages near Mogadishu, raising concerns about the capital’s security.
While Somali forces have regained some ground, al Shabaab continues to make advances, and the situation is made more uncertain by the fragile international security support for Somalia.