On January 17, 2023, al-Shabaab attacked a Somali army base in the town of Hawadley, Hirshabelle State, Somalia. In response, the Somali army launched counter-operations to secure the area.

Battle of Hawadley
Part of Somali Civil War
DateJanuary 17–19, 2023
Location
Result Somali victory
Belligerents

Somalia

al-Shabaab
Casualties and losses
10 (per Somalia)
63 (per al-Shabaab)
49+ (per Somalia)

Background

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In late 2022, the Somali government under Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a massive counteroffensive against al-Shabaab in Somalia's Hirshabelle State.[1] In the offensive, Somali forces recovered large swaths of the state, including Runirgod District, Ceel Guud, and Harardhere.[1] In these offensives, they captured the town of Hawadley in late October.[2]

Battles

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The day of the attack, al-Shabaab militants placed a car with explosives outside the Somali Army's military base in Hawadley.[2] Immediately afterward, jihadists stormed the base and shot at the Somali soldiers. Somali forces were able to hold onto the base.[3] A Somali commander from a nearby town stated that seven Somali soldiers, including the base's commander, were killed in the attack.[4] This number later rose to ten soldiers killed.[3] al-Shabaab, immediately after the attack, claimed the deaths of sixty-three Somali soldiers.[5]

Two days later, the Somali army in collaboration with NISA attacked al-Shabaab bases at farms on the outskirts of Hawadley. Forty-nine al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the battle.[6] The attack was launched in response to the Hawadley base attack.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sustaining Gains in Somalia's Offensive against Al-Shabaab". www.crisisgroup.org. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  2. ^ a b "Al-Shabab Launches Deadly Attack on Somali Military Base". Voice of America. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  3. ^ a b "Over 40 al-Shabaab terrorists killed in new operation, says Somali military". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  4. ^ "Seven soldiers killed in al-Shabab attack on Somali military base". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  5. ^ "Somalia: Al-Shabaab attacks army base in Hawadley, Middle Shabelle, Jan. 17". Somalia: Al-Shabaab attacks army base in Hawadley, Middle Shabelle, Jan. 17 | Crisis24. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  6. ^ a b "69 al-Shabab Fighters Killed, Somali Military Says". Voice of America. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-12-06.