Baidoa (WDN) – Heavy fighting erupted on the outskirts of Baidoa in southern Somalia, leaving senior military commanders dead in what appears to be one of the most serious battlefield setbacks for government forces in recent weeks.
According to reports emerging from the area, the clashes broke out after Al-Shabaab fighters launched a fierce assault on positions held by Somali National Army forces near Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State.
Other reports indicate that the fighting erupted after government forces reportedly launched an attack on opposition fighters loyal to former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed(Laftagareen) in the outskirts of Boidoa.
Sources on the ground confirmed that two high-ranking Somali military commanders were killed during the fighting. The officers were identified as Colonel Ali Cadow, commander of the Somali National Army’s 8th Brigade, and Yunis Adan, commander of the 9th Brigade.
The deaths of the two commanders have sent shockwaves through government ranks, as both officers were considered key figures in ongoing military operations across Bay region and surrounding areas. Residents near the battle zone described intense exchanges of gunfire and heavy weapons that continued for hours, triggering panic among civilians living on the outskirts of the city.
Somali military officials have not yet released a detailed statement regarding the full extent of the casualties or the circumstances surrounding the attack. However, preliminary reports suggest additional losses may have been suffered by both sides during the confrontation.
The latest violence comes at a time when security conditions in Bay region are rapidly deteriorating, with Al-Shabaab intensifying attacks on government military bases, checkpoints, and strategic positions throughout Southwest State.
Baidoa, long considered one of the federal government’s most critical strongholds in southern Somalia, has in recent months come under increasing pressure as the insurgent group expands its operations despite ongoing government offensives.
The killing of the two brigade commanders also raises fresh questions about the resilience of Somalia’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab, particularly as the federal government continues to claim progress in the war while militant attacks grow increasingly bold and deadly across multiple regions of the country.
WardheerNews
