Mogadishu (WDN)— Heavy fighting broke out late last night in the Water Wells area of Mogadishu, following a coordinated assault by Al-Shabaab militants on compounds belonging to the Somali National Army (SNA) and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

According to security sources, the attack began with a series of explosions targeting military and intelligence facilities along the strategic Mogadishu–Afgoye corridor. The militants then engaged in direct combat with Somali forces in a battle that lasted for several hours and involved heavy weaponry. While casualties have been confirmed, officials have yet to release precise figures.

Security forces regained control of the area in the early hours of the morning and are currently conducting search-and-clear operations. Roads leading to and from the Water Wells zone have been secured, and security patrols have intensified.

This latest attack follows a string of similar operations by Al-Shabaab in recent days. Eyewitnesses reported that militants had been seen entering neighborhoods on the capital’s outskirts—including Lafole and Hawo Abdi—where they temporarily blocked roads and disabled streetlights before withdrawing without resistance.

The group’s increasing presence in the vicinity of the capital has raised alarms among residents and security analysts alike. Al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu over 15 years ago, but recent movements indicate a possible attempt to reassert control or test the government’s defensive capabilities.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions remains precarious. Local sources report that several areas previously held by government forces have recently fallen back into militant hands following sustained offensives by Al-Shabaab. The Somali National Army, already stretched thin, is struggling with a lack of coordination and logistical support in several contested zones.

Observers say the Somali government faces a critical turning point as Al-Shabaab escalates its campaign across southern Somalia. Without immediate intervention and bolstered military support, there are growing fears that the fragile security gains of recent years could unravel.

WDN will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

WardheerNews