The Somali Armed Forces announced today that they thwarted an attack launched on the city of Baidoa—the capital of the Bay region—by Al-Shabaab militants and allied forces loyal to the former Southwest State administration led by Abdiaziz Laftagaren.
SNA Radio, the media outlet of the Somali military, reported that the attack began with explosions, followed by an attempt by Al-Shabaab militants to enter the city.
According to SNA Radio, government forces fiercely repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking militias.
The Armed Forces also stated that they remain in full control of Baidoa and are conducting operations in the areas where the attacking Al-Shabaab militants fled.
SNA Radio added that the attacking militias left behind their dead and wounded as they fled the scene, although the military media did not release an official casualty count resulting from the fighting.
Baidoa has recently been the scene of political and security tensions, with military movements also taking place in the city involving the federal government and forces loyal to the former president of Southwest State, Abdiaziz Laftagaren.