Al-Shabaab militants launch deadly siege on hotel in Central Somalia

At least six people perished Tuesday when al-Shabaab militants orchestrated a coordinated assault on a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, where local elders and government officials had gathered for security discussions.

The attackers initiated the siege by detonating a powerful car bomb before storming the building with gunfire. Social media footage revealed thick black smoke billowing above the severely damaged structure as Somali security forces engaged in an intense firefight that continued into the early afternoon.

Al-Shabaab, which maintains ties to al-Qaeda, promptly claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting they had killed more than ten individuals. Intelligence reports confirm that two prominent traditional elders are among the deceased, while numerous wounded have been transported to local hospitals.

The targeted elders had been meeting with government officials specifically to develop strategies for countering al-Shabaab’s influence in the region—a bitter irony underscoring the militant group’s continued operational capabilities despite sustained military pressure.

For over sixteen years, al-Shabaab has waged a relentless insurgency against Somalia’s federal government, regularly executing bombings and attacks targeting officials and military personnel. The organization maintains control over significant rural territories despite ongoing offensive operations by Somali government troops and African Union peacekeepers.

Beledweyne, situated approximately 335 kilometers north of Mogadishu, serves as the capital of the strategically significant Hiran region and represents a crucial front in the government’s campaign against the persistent terrorist threat.