Somali Forces End 24-Hour al-Shabab Siege at Beledweyne Hotel
March 12, 2025 Hour: 6:59 pm
Somali security forces successfully ended a 24-hour siege by al-Shabab militants at the Cairo Hotel in Beledweyne, a central city 335 km north of Mogadishu, leaving an undisclosed number of casualties, including all six attackers, officials confirmed.
Deadly Attack on Strategic City
The attack began Tuesday with a car bomb explosion at the hotel, which housed traditional elders and military officers coordinating Somalia’s anti-al-Shabab offensive.
- Beledweyne Mayor, Omar Alasow, confirmed the operation’s success but did not specify the civilian death toll.
- Conflicting reports suggest at least six civilians were killed, including two prominent elders, while other witness accounts mention up to 11 fatalities.
- Al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ongoing Security Threat
Footage circulating online showed thick smoke and extensive destruction at the hotel. Al-Shabab, which controls rural parts of Somalia, continues to launch targeted attacks on government and military personnel, despite intensified military campaigns by Somali forces and African Union peacekeepers.
The Cairo Hotel attack highlights the persistent security challenge facing Somalia’s federal government, as it struggles to neutralize al-Shabab’s influence in the region.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-Africanews
