Militant group Al-Shabaab launched a coordinated attack on Adan Yabaal in central Somalia early Wednesday, targeting a town long used by government forces as a strategic base in their anti-insurgency campaign. The assault comes amid growing concern over the group’s territorial gains in recent weeks.
Residents reported hearing explosions and heavy gunfire at dawn, with militants attacking from multiple directions. “After early morning prayers, we heard a deafening explosion, then gunfire,” said Fatuma Nur, a local resident sheltering indoors as fighting raged.
Conflicting reports emerged on the outcome. A Somali army officer said government troops had repelled the attackers, while Al-Shabaab claimed it had overrun 10 military posts and seized control of the town. A video clip circulating shows Alshabab fully controls the town.
Adan Yabaal lies 245 km north of Mogadishu and has been a key operations base for government offensives. Its fall would mark a significant blow to the Somali army and raise fears of a renewed push toward the capital.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who hails from the region, visited the town last month to review the military situation and reinforce troops.
The battle underscores growing uncertainty around Somalia’s security outlook. A restructured African Union peacekeeping mission faces funding shortfalls, and U.S. opposition to a proposed U.N. financing model has added to the strain.
Al-Shabaab, linked to al-Qaeda, has waged an insurgency since 2007, aiming to topple Somalia’s government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. The recent wave of attacks has included incursions near Mogadishu, further alarming residents and security analysts.