Somali Troops Push Back Insurgents in Battle for Strategic Hub Baidoa

Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked the southern Somali

Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked the southern Somali city of Baidoa on Tuesday as government troops fought to hold the city against a coordinated assault by rebel fighters. Witnesses reported hours of sustained combat near the city’s main checkpoints, with both sides trading fire through residential streets before the army managed to push the attackers back.

The clashes, which began before dawn, involved armed vehicles and improvised explosive devices, according to local officials. At least a dozen soldiers and an unknown number of militants were killed in the fighting, while medical sources said more than thirty civilians were wounded, some caught in the crossfire as they tried to flee their homes.

Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West State, has changed hands multiple times over the past decade and remains a critical prize for armed groups seeking to expand their influence beyond rural strongholds. The city also hosts thousands of internally displaced people, many of whom have sought refuge from drought and conflict in other regions.

A military spokesman confirmed that reinforcements were …

A military spokesman confirmed that reinforcements were sent to the city’s outskirts after the initial attack, and said the army had regained full control of all key positions by late afternoon. However, residents reported sporadic gunfire continuing into the evening, and many shops remained shuttered as a precaution.

Analysts note that the attack underscores the persistent volatility in central Somalia, despite recent government offensives aimed at reclaiming territory from al-Shabaab-linked militias. The rebels have repeatedly shown the ability to strike at urban centers, even after losing ground in rural campaigns, raising questions about the durability of security gains.

The federal government in Mogadishu issued a statement condemning the assault and vowing to maintain pressure on militant networks. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies urged all parties to spare civilian infrastructure, warning that renewed fighting could disrupt aid deliveries to tens of thousands of vulnerable families in the region.