El-Dheer, Galguduud – Somali government forces, backed by local fighters, successfully repelled a major Al-Shabaab attack on El-Dheer district in Galguduud region on Friday, forcing the militants to withdraw after hours of fierce fighting. The clash, described by residents as one of the most intense in recent months, highlighted both the determination of community defense units and the importance of coordinated military operations in central Somalia.
According to officials, the assault began in the early morning when heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters stormed the town in a bid to overrun security positions. Government troops, supported by local clan militias, mounted a strong defense, holding key points until reinforcements and air support arrived to push the insurgents back.
The militant group claimed to have seized the district and inflicted heavy casualties, but government officials dismissed these assertions as propaganda. Residents and military sources confirmed that El-Dheer remains firmly under government control, with several Al-Shabaab fighters killed during the counter-offensive.
El-Dheer lies in southeastern Galguduud, a region where Somali forces, with support from local communities, have recently intensified operations aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab’s rural strongholds. Friday’s repulsion marks a significant morale boost for both the army and residents, reinforcing confidence in the ongoing national campaign to reclaim territories still under militant influence.