Friday June 30, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Intense skirmishes broke out in the early hours of Friday near the Somali village of Darunim'a, located in the Middle Shabelle region, according to local residents. The conflict began when Al-Shabaab militants launched an assault on the village, triggering a battle that spanned nearly an hour.
The village Mosque was attacked and severely damaged during the attack.
Al-Shabaab, the militant group notorious for its violence and insurgencies in Somalia and neighbouring regions, has claimed responsibility for the surprise attack. The death toll, however, remains undetermined at present.
The Somali government has yet to release any official statements concerning the situation.
Darunim'a is one of several villages that have recently been liberated from Al-Shabaab's grip. The combined efforts of Somali government forces and local clan militias over the past year have resulted in regaining control of these areas. This region was under Al-Shabaab's reign for almost a decade before its liberation.