September 2022 Hiran bombing
Part of Somali Civil War (2009-present)
Locationnear Beledweyne, Hiran Region, Somalia
DateSeptember 3, 2022
Deaths21
Perpetrator al-Shabaab

On September 3, 2022, militants from al-Shabaab ambushed a civilian bus traveling from Beledweyne to Mahas, in Hiran, Somalia. Over twenty civilians were killed, and the bombing occurred in the middle of the 2022 Hiraan offensive by the Somali military against al-Shabaab.[1]

Prelude

The city of Beledweyne, in central Somalia's Hiraan region, has been at the forefront of the civil war between the Somali government and the jihadist group al-Shabaab.[2] In July 2022, the Somali government launched an offensive against al-Shabaab-controlled areas in Hiraan region, with the aid of the local Ma'awisley militia.[3][1] In response, elements of al-Shabaab fled across the Somali border into Ethiopia, sparking a second conflict. Al-Shabaab's counter to the offensive, per their modus operandi, was using IEDs and other bomb attacks against the Somali army and civilians.[4]

Attack

Around midnight on September 3, seven vehicles transporting aid and civilians from Beledweyne to Mahas were traveling along the road when the initial seven vehicles were ambushed by al-Shabaab fighters, shooting into the bus.[1][5] Two vehicles behind the convoy went to rescue survivors, but were hit by an IED while attempting to reach them.[5] Locals and survivors recounted that many of the dead civilians were shot, and the civilian and food aid buses were burned by the al-Shabaab fighters afterward.[1][6] The initial ambush killed eighteen civilians, with the subsequent bombing killing three aid workers.[5][1]

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming to have ambushed a Ma'awisley supply convoy.[5]

Aftermath and reactions

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that the government "strongly condemns the despicable acts of murder against innocent civilians."[6] Ali Gudlawe, president of Hirshabelle State, expressed his condolences as well.[6]

Twenty-one people were killed in the attack.[7] In response to the attack, a localized offensive in the Hiran region by the Somali government recaptured over twenty villages.[8] The operation killed 100 al-Shabaab fighters, and captured 20 alive, according to the Somali government.[8] A secondary attack in the village of Buq Abable killed 18 militants, according to the government.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Al-Shabab Kills 21 in Somalia's Hiran Province". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  2. ↑ "Security Council Press Statement on Recent Terrorist Attacks in Somalia | UN Press". press.un.org. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  3. ↑ Askar, Hanad (2022-08-13). "SOMALIA: Government forces retake villages in Hiiraan region". Horseed Media. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  4. ↑ "Al-Shabaab, Macawisley and Somalia's post-election security landscape". trendsresearch.org. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Dahir, Abdi Latif (2022-09-03). "Militants Attack Trucks Carrying Food Relief in Somalia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  6. 1 2 3 "At least 19 civilians killed, food aid trucks destroyed in al-Shabab attack in Somalia". SBS News. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  7. ↑ "Somalia: Al-Shabaab militant attack leaves at least 20 people dead in Hiiraan Region early Sept. 3 /update 1". Somalia: Al-Shabaab militant attack leaves at least 20 people dead in Hiiraan Region early Sept. 3 /update 1 | Crisis24. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  8. 1 2 "Somali Military Says Offensive Retakes 20 Villages from Militants". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  9. ↑ "18 terrorists killed, 'strategic' al-Shabaab assets destroyed in Somalia operation". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
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