Gunmen from the Al Shabab militant group attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, including clan elders and their guards. The attack took place as local leaders and government officials were meeting to discuss strategies to counter Al Shabab’s insurgency.
The attackers, linked to Al-Qaeda, gained entry by detonating explosives at the hotel’s entrance. Local eyewitnesses reported explosions and gunfire, with parts of the building set ablaze.
Clan elder Abdullahi Fidow confirmed the deaths of seven victims and expressed concerns that the death toll could rise due to ongoing fighting in surrounding buildings. While government forces engaged with the militants, it was unclear whether the operation had been fully concluded.
In a separate skirmish in southern Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, at least 10 people, including eight Al Shabab fighters, were killed in a clash between the militants and government forces. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was reported at the airport to receive injured soldiers returning from the conflict.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2593293/world