Hiiraan, June 3, 2025 – Intense fighting broke out this morning in Xawaadleey, a key location in the Hiiraan region, following a major offensive by Al-Shabaab militants who reportedly took full control of the area yesterday. The takeover came after Burundian AMISOM forces stationed there withdrew from their base without engaging in combat.
According to local sources and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Al-Shabaab assault on Xawaadleey was well-coordinated. The militants quickly seized control of the base, marking a significant shift in territorial control.
A military helicopter reportedly crashed at the same base shortly after the militant group captured it. While the nature of the helicopter—whether military or humanitarian—is still unclear, eyewitness accounts and images from the area show visible damage to the site.
Security experts indicate that Al-Shabaab is now on the offensive again in Hiiraan, reversing recent months of government-led military gains. Analysts say a noticeable slowdown in Federal Government operations has created openings for the militant group to regain lost ground.
Local residents are now living in fear, as government troops and allied forces have yet to launch a counterattack. So far, neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) has issued an official statement regarding the fall of Xawaadleey or the reported helicopter crash.
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