Minister, deputy governor among several killed in Somalia blasts

The city was hit by the deadly attack amid an ongoing military operation in the Hiran region, where the country armed with the support of local residents was making territorial gains.

News Keydmedia Online
3 October 2022

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia - The Al-Qaeda-linked militant group - Al-Shabaab carried out a morning truck bombing in central Somalia as it faces defeats on the battle frontlines.

Two Al-Shabaab militants detonated their explosives-filled trucks at Lama-Galay military camp, which houses the offices of Hiran governor and HirShabelle state leader Ali Gudlawe.

The devastating attack claimed by Al-Shabaab has killed over a dozen people, including HirShabelle state health minister Zakariya Hurre and the deputy governor of Hiran Abukar Madey.

The heavily fortified base camp was destroyed in the blasts, according to pictures and footage from the scene. Dozens of people are reported to have been wounded in the twin bombings.

The city was hit by the deadly attack amid an ongoing military operation in the Hiran region, where the country armed with the support of local residents was making territorial gains.

In March this year, a suicide bomber killed several people, including prominent opposition female lawmakers Amin Abdi outside the base. The town lies 350 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

The attack came hours after the Somali government announced the killing of Al-Shabaab's No.2 leader Abdullahi Nadir in an operation by the elite forces in collaboration with US troops.

KEYDMEDIA English