Heavy fighting has broken out in the early hours of this morning in the Sabiid and Caanoole area of Lower Shabelle region, with intense battles reported between Somali government forces, backed by Ugandan troops under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and Al-Shabaab militants.
The clashes were triggered when Al-Shabaab fighters launched a surprise attack on military positions in Sabiid and Caanoole, starting with powerful explosions that were heard miles away from the area. Following the blasts, fierce gun battles ensued between the two sides, with local residents describing it as some of the heaviest fighting the area has witnessed in recent times.
Eyewitnesses report significant casualties, with both deaths and injuries among combatants, though the exact toll remains unconfirmed due to the ongoing nature of the conflict. The fighting has now been raging for over three continuous hours.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Federal Government of Somalia or Lower Shabelle regional authorities regarding the situation on the ground.
It is worth noting that just a month ago, on June 21, Somali government forces declared Sabiid and Caanoole liberated from Al-Shabaab control after the militant group had maintained a stronghold in the area for an extended period. Today’s assault marks a significant attempt by Al-Shabaab to regain a foothold in this strategically important region.
