Thursday 24 April 2025 {HMC} Al-Qaeda-affiliated group claims to have overrun army base in Wargaadhi, but Somali Defense Ministry denies and says it remains under military control
The al-Shabaab terrorist group on Thursday launched a pre-dawn attack on a strategic Somali army base in Wargaadhi village in the Middle Shabelle region of south-central Hirshabele state, triggering a heavy firefight.
According to a security official who spoke to Anadolu over the phone on condition of anonymity, the Somali National Army, supported by local militias, engaged in fierce combat with the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, resulting in multiple casualties on both sides.
“Wargaadhi remains fully under the control of the Somali National Army and local forces,” the ministry said in a statement.
Wargaadhi is the second-largest military base for the Somali National Army in the Middle Shabelle region, following the strategic town of Adan Yabaal, which was previously seized by al-Shabaab.
The village is of key geographical importance as it connects army bases in Eel-Dheer and Masagaway in the central state of Galmudug.
Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks on Somali government forces and strategic military positions in Middle Shabelle since the start of Ramadan last month.
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