IED leaves three dead in Baidoa as SNA troops crush Al-shabaab in Middle Shebelle

BAIDOA, Somalia | An Improvised Explosive Device [IED] left three civilians dead in Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of Southwest state on Friday, state media reported, in yet another round of attacks targeting innocent people in Somalia. 

The blast, authorities said, targeted a Khat market in Baidoa city center, leaving the three civilians dead and dozens of people injured. Those injured have been admitted to various hospitals within Southwest for urgent treatment, police said. 

"Three civilians were killed, and Thirteen others sustained injuries in a bomb explosion in Baidoa town. Preliminary reports say the blast. An improvised explosive device occurred at a khat market in the city center," state media reported. 

It's not clear who the attackers targeted, but such attacks are synonymous with the Al-Shabaab militants, who control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. The Al-Shabaab militants are yet to take responsibility for the attack. 

The attack comes at the time Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] are plotting a major onslaught against the militants in coming weeks ahead of their exit after the implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP], which will see AMISOM troops hand over security responsibilities to Somali National Army [SNA].

Also, the explosion comes just a day after Somalia's top leadership signed a pre-election pact which would see elections held within the next sixty days. In the past, political leaders were magnanimous that Al-Shabaab militants should be crushed by December 2022. 

The Al-Qaida linked group has created havoc in the country, mainly targeting security forces, senior government officials, and even innocent civilians. The United Nations on Tuesday termed the group as a "dangerous outfit" in a statement issued by UN envoy to Somalia James Swan.

At the same time, the Somali National Army crushed Al-Shabaab militants in Gallabashiir village in Middle Shebelle on Friday, state media said, noting that at least 15 militants were killed and several injured during the operation. 

During the operation, a senior commander told state media, the terror group suffered immense losses, including but not limited to destruction of their bases and confiscation of their fighting paraphernalia. 

"Somali National Army killed 15 members of al-Shabab in security operations at Gallabashiir village, in Middle Sh.region. SNA commanders say terrorists suffered a huge loss in the operations. SNA destroyed Shabab bases  and recovered weapons as operations keep continuing."

The Al-Shabaab militants, who are notorious for responding to such reports, are yet to state the information. Somalia has been struggling to contain the militants since 2007, when they first struck in the Horn of Africa nation. 

GAROWE ONLINE