After nearly 24 hours of intense conflict, the attack launched by Al-Shabaab militants on the Qaahira Hotel in the western part of Beledweyne city, Hiiraan region, has been brought to an end.
The attack, which started with explosions, was followed by direct combat, as militants stormed the hotel where elders and military officials were staying. According to confirmed reports, at least 7 people have been killed in the attack, including elders, military officers, and civilians, while more than that number have sustained injuries.
Beledweyne’s mayor, Omar Alasow, held a press conference and gave an update on the operation. He stated that the attackers numbered six, with four of them detonating explosives, and the remaining two were killed by security forces.
He also noted that security forces eventually entered the hotel and shot the attackers. “The group that attacked the hotel consisted of six militants. Four of them blew themselves up, and the other two were shot by security forces. The forces were focused on rescuing elders, military officers, and civilians trapped inside the hotel,” said the mayor.
He added, “The operation was concluded by midnight last night. This morning, we are now inside the hotel, where security forces are conducting investigations related to the Al-Shabaab group’s plots and the possibility that they planted explosives inside the building.”
A survivor, one of the elders, recounted the events, mentioning that he had fought for a long time and only narrowly escaped with minor injuries. He explained that initially, they managed to resist the attackers, but one of the militants detonated explosives after a prolonged firefight. After the second explosion, the security forces were able to neutralize many of the attackers.
This attack comes amid ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab in the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. The group has once again attempted to re-enter areas previously liberated in these regions, which are under the control of the Hirshabelle administration.
