A Somali security official, Abdullahi Adan, told the media that “Shebab terrorists”, an al-Qaeda affiliated group, attacked the town of Mahas, located 300 km from the capital Mogadishu, on Tuesday morning with two vehicles loaded with explosives. The attack left 35 people dead.
Several months ago, the Somali army carried out a military offensive against the Sehabab in Hiran province, but this new attack proves that they have the capacity to attack civilians and Somali military installations.
Moreover, the government has launched an “all-out war” against this terrorist group while sending reinforcements to support the army, with the military support of the African Union in Somalia (Atmis) and American air strikes, which has enabled the recapture of vast territories held by the Shebab.
These attacks are not new. Last October, a two-car bombing in the capital Mogadishu killed 121 people. Similarly, another attack in Hiran province killed 30 people.