Armed Islamist militants affiliated with al-Qaeda, known as al-Shabab, have besieged the Qahira Hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, escalating the situation with a car bomb explosion that allowed gunmen to infiltrate the area. Police reports initially indicated four deaths; however, local witnesses have raised the death toll to at least ten, amid ongoing gunfire between security forces and the attackers.
This attack comes as a group of politicians, security officials, and traditional elders were convening to discuss tactical plans for an offensive targeting al-Shabab, underlining the faction’s violent role in Somalia’s ongoing struggle for stability. Beledweyne, located approximately 335 kilometers (208 miles) from Mogadishu, plays a significant strategic role in combating the insurgency.
Acting Police officer Ali Mahad stated that many individuals present at the meeting had been rescued while noting fierce resistance faced by security forces as they cornered several gunmen within the hotel premises. A federal lawmaker from the city, Dahir Amin Jesow, has estimated that around seven assailants remain inside, indicating an urgent need for additional support equipped with heavy weaponry to regain control.
Eyewitness accounts detail the chaos of the attack, with shopkeeper Ali Suleiman recalling the moment when a loud explosion reverberated followed by rapid gunfire. Although the precise number of injuries remains unclear, arrangements are being made to transport the wounded to Mogadishu for medical attention. Meanwhile, the conflict in the region underscores the ongoing challenge posed by al-Shabab, which has been conducting violent operations in Somalia for over two decades.
