(11 Mar 2025) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – A powerful car bomb explosion followed by gunfire has struck a hotel in the central Somali city of Beledweyne, where officials were reportedly planning military operations against Al-Shabaab.
The attack, which occurred earlier today, targeted Hotel Qaahira in the western part of the city. Reports indicate that traditional elders and military officials were inside the building, coordinating efforts against the militant group.
Eyewitnesses said that after the explosion, heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters stormed the hotel, sparking a gun battle with security forces. The situation remains tense, with gunfire still being heard in the area as security forces attempt to neutralise the attackers and regain control of the site.
Authorities have yet to confirm casualty figures, though initial reports suggest significant damage and potential loss of life.
This attack comes amid ongoing military offensives by government forces and local fighters in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle, where Al-Shabaab has been attempting to regain lost territory.
Beledweyne, a key city in the region and a centre of community-led resistance against Al-Shabaab, has been repeatedly targeted by deadly bombings. Today’s attack bears similarities to previous incidents that have inflicted heavy casualties on civilians and officials alike.
Halqabsi News
