Breaking News Al-Shabab attacks hotel near presidential palace in Somali capital

[Kartal1]

Al-Shabab attacks hotel near presidential palace in Somali capital​

A Somali security officer walks at the entrance of Hotel Hayat, the scene of an al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group militant attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)

Extremist militants from the al-Shabab group on Thursday attacked a popular hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, security sources and witnesses said.

The assault, for which al-Shabab claimed responsibility, began at around 9:45 pm (1845 GMT) when gunmen stormed the SYL hotel in a hail of bullets.


“Several gunmen forced their way into the building after destroying the perimeter wall with a heavy explosion,” security officer Ahmed Dahir told AFP.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

It was not immediately clear if there were casualties.

Witnesses described hearing the attackers shoot indiscriminately.

“I don’t know about the casualties but there were many people inside when the attack started,” said Hassan Nur who escaped by scaling a wall.

The al-Qaeda-linked extremists have been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed federal government for more than 16 years and have often targeted hotels, which tend to host high-ranking Somali and foreign officials.


Although the militants were driven out of the capital by an African Union force, they retain a strong presence in rural Somalia and regularly carry out attacks against political and civilian targets, including in Mogadishu.

The beleaguered central government launched a major offensive against the extremists in August 2022, joining forces with local clan militias.

But the offensive has suffered setbacks despite early gains.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2024/03/15/Al-Shabaab-attacks-hotel-near-presidential-palace-in-Somali-capital

 

[Kartal1]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1768391404718354803

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1768410711493886293

 

[Bozan]

Chances of foreign support behind this?

 

[TR_123456]

Al-Shabab attacks hotel near presidential palace in Somali capital​

View attachment 66543
A Somali security officer walks at the entrance of Hotel Hayat, the scene of an al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group militant attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, August 20, 2022. (Reuters)

Extremist militants from the al-Shabab group on Thursday attacked a popular hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, security sources and witnesses said.

The assault, for which al-Shabab claimed responsibility, began at around 9:45 pm (1845 GMT) when gunmen stormed the SYL hotel in a hail of bullets.


“Several gunmen forced their way into the building after destroying the perimeter wall with a heavy explosion,” security officer Ahmed Dahir told AFP.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

It was not immediately clear if there were casualties.

Witnesses described hearing the attackers shoot indiscriminately.

“I don’t know about the casualties but there were many people inside when the attack started,” said Hassan Nur who escaped by scaling a wall.

The al-Qaeda-linked extremists have been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed federal government for more than 16 years and have often targeted hotels, which tend to host high-ranking Somali and foreign officials.


Although the militants were driven out of the capital by an African Union force, they retain a strong presence in rural Somalia and regularly carry out attacks against political and civilian targets, including in Mogadishu.

The beleaguered central government launched a major offensive against the extremists in August 2022, joining forces with local clan militias.

But the offensive has suffered setbacks despite early gains.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2024/03/15/Al-Shabaab-attacks-hotel-near-presidential-palace-in-Somali-capital

Unreal,they have drones but still cant defeat these terrorists.
Somalia is flat,how come they couldnt see them coming?

 

[Bozan]

Unreal,they have drones but still cant defeat these terrorists.
Somalia is flat,how come they couldnt see them coming?

Civilian camouflage probably

 

[BaburKhan]

It's Time for our Naval Assests to be ready. We could need CSG + amphihibian assault Force right now and Strike this Khawaridj with UCAV and Gezgin.

 

[Kartal1]

Unreal,they have drones but still cant defeat these terrorists.
Somalia is flat,how come they couldnt see them coming?

Usta, this is happening in Mogadishu and when coming they didn't introduce themselves as terrorists, but your comment is still relevant.

"How they couldn't see them coming?"

This is a question at which the Somali intelligence must answer and the answer will be hard. There is a very big gap and the situation must be taken under control otherwise the situation will go out of control.

When it comes to the question of where are the drones, we know they are there, but they are absolutely not enough to stop the advance of Al-Shabab. We saw this at other places like Mali and it was concluded that they help a lot, but it is not enough. You need a capable ground force that will keep control over the gains and Somalia is still far from it.

Chances of foreign support behind this?

Well, I don't think so, but I wouldn't completely discard the chance as we know where Saif Al-Adel (the Commander of Al-Qaeda) is residing...

UAE and Turkish interests in Somalia are constantly targeted, but I see the event as a natural development in result of the unfortunate fail of the Somalia National Army, but also the intelligence services.

Looking strategically we see that Turkiye trusts its military power for sorting out problems which could be sorted out politically. As some analyzers are pointing out, Turkiye with its diplomatic initiatives is aiming at lightening the burden off the TSK's back and give priority to diplomacy again.

Turkiye has already a big problem in Syria and Iraq which is requiring a large deployment of professional troops. Our interests in Libya and Somalia are also endangered. We saw the movement of Haftar forces in Libya after the Russian MoD officials visit and now we see an increase in activity of Al-Shabab (Al-Qaeda) in Somalia. We know very well that Saif Al-Adel is acting on IRGC's command and this is one of the main reason for Joulani's HTS in Syria to emerge and break ties with Al-Qaeda in Syria. We also know well about Al-Qaeda's role in Yemen and their direct interactions with IRGC. The developing events may be an attempt to overstretch TSK's manpower and prevent TSK to act and intervene decisively in Iraq and Syria. Wagner-Al-Qaeda duo managed to drift a lot of western and mainly French resources (the biggest military power of the EU) from the war of Ukraine. The leader of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Khalid Batarfi was also announced dead a couple of days ago. No reasons for his death were revealed. All this is falling within the conspiracy theories notes tho.

Al-Shabab statement on the matter:

Among those injured so far in the ongoing immersion operation at the SYL government hotel adjacent to the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu: the secretary of the Mogadishu capital administration for the Western-backed Somali government, the commander-in-chief of the special police forces trained by Turkey, and a number of parliamentarians, some of whom threw themselves from the upper floors of the building, in addition to other officials and officers.

Osman Diri, a member of Somali parliament is reported to be dead, spokesman of Somali government Farhen Mohammad Jumali reported wounded.

 

[Lool]

Usta, this is happening in Mogadishu and when coming they didn't introduce themselves as terrorists, but your comment is still relevant.

"How they couldn't see them coming?"

This is a question at which the Somali intelligence must answer and the answer will be hard. There is a very big gap and the situation must be taken under control otherwise the situation will go out of control.

When it comes to the question of where are the drones, we know they are there, but they are absolutely not enough to stop the advance of Al-Shabab. We saw this at other places like Mali and it was concluded that they help a lot, but it is not enough. You need a capable ground force that will keep control over the gains and Somalia is still far from it.

Well, I don't think so, but I wouldn't completely discard the chance as we know where Saif Al-Adel (the Commander of Al-Qaeda) is residing...

UAE and Turkish interests in Somalia are constantly targeted, but I see the event as a natural development in result of the unfortunate fail of the Somalia National Army, but also the intelligence services.

Looking strategically we see that Turkiye trusts its military power for sorting out problems which could be sorted out politically. As some analyzers are pointing out, Turkiye with its diplomatic initiatives is aiming at lightening the burden off the TSK's back and give priority to diplomacy again.

Turkiye has already a big problem in Syria and Iraq which is requiring a large deployment of professional troops. Our interests in Libya and Somalia are also endangered. We saw the movement of Haftar forces in Libya after the Russian MoD officials visit and now we see an increase in activity of Al-Shabab (Al-Qaeda) in Somalia. We know very well that Saif Al-Adel is acting on IRGC's command and this is one of the main reason for Joulani's HTS in Syria to emerge and break ties with Al-Qaeda in Syria. We also know well about Al-Qaeda's role in Yemen and their direct interactions with IRGC. The developing events may be an attempt to overstretch TSK's manpower and prevent TSK to act and intervene decisively in Iraq and Syria. Wagner-Al-Qaeda duo managed to drift a lot of western and mainly French resources (the biggest military power of the EU) from the war of Ukraine. The leader of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Khalid Batarfi was also announced dead a couple of days ago. No reasons for his death were revealed. All this is falling within the conspiracy theories notes tho.

Al-Shabab statement on the matter:

Among those injured so far in the ongoing immersion operation at the SYL government hotel adjacent to the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu: the secretary of the Mogadishu capital administration for the Western-backed Somali government, the commander-in-chief of the special police forces trained by Turkey, and a number of parliamentarians, some of whom threw themselves from the upper floors of the building, in addition to other officials and officers.

Osman Diri, a member of Somali parliament is reported to be dead, spokesman of Somali government Farhen Mohammad Jumali reported wounded.

Is it a coincidence that this attack was carried out right after the Turkish-Somali deal or even after the TB2 footage of Somali forces was spread?

 

[Kartal1]

Is it a coincidence that this attack was carried out right after the Turkish-Somali deal or even after the TB2 footage of Somali forces was spread?

There are no coincidences. Al-Shabab uses every opportunity to harm Turkiye's influence in Somalia.

Here the real question is:

How did Al-Shabab learn about this meeting being held in this exact location and how the Somali intelligence knew nothing about the attack which targeted Somalia's elite?

Also other questions are there including what were the security measures taken prior to the meeting and how did they managed to bypass these security measures.

This was reportedly strategic meeting at which decisions were to be taken about coming actions against Al-Shabab.

This comes 4 days after US designates persons and affiliated companies based in Kenya, Uganda, Cyprus, and the UAE as a vital components of al-Shabab and in consequence global al-Qaeda financing networks.

 

[Ryder]

Usta, this is happening in Mogadishu and when coming they didn't introduce themselves as terrorists, but your comment is still relevant.

"How they couldn't see them coming?"

This is a question at which the Somali intelligence must answer and the answer will be hard. There is a very big gap and the situation must be taken under control otherwise the situation will go out of control.

When it comes to the question of where are the drones, we know they are there, but they are absolutely not enough to stop the advance of Al-Shabab. We saw this at other places like Mali and it was concluded that they help a lot, but it is not enough. You need a capable ground force that will keep control over the gains and Somalia is still far from it.

Well, I don't think so, but I wouldn't completely discard the chance as we know where Saif Al-Adel (the Commander of Al-Qaeda) is residing...

UAE and Turkish interests in Somalia are constantly targeted, but I see the event as a natural development in result of the unfortunate fail of the Somalia National Army, but also the intelligence services.

Looking strategically we see that Turkiye trusts its military power for sorting out problems which could be sorted out politically. As some analyzers are pointing out, Turkiye with its diplomatic initiatives is aiming at lightening the burden off the TSK's back and give priority to diplomacy again.

Turkiye has already a big problem in Syria and Iraq which is requiring a large deployment of professional troops. Our interests in Libya and Somalia are also endangered. We saw the movement of Haftar forces in Libya after the Russian MoD officials visit and now we see an increase in activity of Al-Shabab (Al-Qaeda) in Somalia. We know very well that Saif Al-Adel is acting on IRGC's command and this is one of the main reason for Joulani's HTS in Syria to emerge and break ties with Al-Qaeda in Syria. We also know well about Al-Qaeda's role in Yemen and their direct interactions with IRGC. The developing events may be an attempt to overstretch TSK's manpower and prevent TSK to act and intervene decisively in Iraq and Syria. Wagner-Al-Qaeda duo managed to drift a lot of western and mainly French resources (the biggest military power of the EU) from the war of Ukraine. The leader of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Khalid Batarfi was also announced dead a couple of days ago. No reasons for his death were revealed. All this is falling within the conspiracy theories notes tho.

Al-Shabab statement on the matter:

Among those injured so far in the ongoing immersion operation at the SYL government hotel adjacent to the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu: the secretary of the Mogadishu capital administration for the Western-backed Somali government, the commander-in-chief of the special police forces trained by Turkey, and a number of parliamentarians, some of whom threw themselves from the upper floors of the building, in addition to other officials and officers.

Osman Diri, a member of Somali parliament is reported to be dead, spokesman of Somali government Farhen Mohammad Jumali reported wounded.

Not to mention declassified reports of Osama Bin Laden saying that Iran is a vital supply line.

This means Al Qaeda and the IRGC have been in contact no doubt.

 

[Lool]

So, is there any Turkish or Somali response?
Or will it just be swept under the rug?

 

[Kartal1]

So, is there any Turkish or Somali response?
Or will it just be swept under the rug?

In a tactical way we are supposed to see the response in the coming period in the face of military operations.

The US hit Al-Shabab on the request of the Somali Government 5 days ago. Both the US and Turkiye recognize the threat of Al-Shabab and their recent gains on the battlefield. I think we may see increased Turkish advisor activities and additional military help in terms of UAVs and other military equipment.

 

[Bozan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1768584168735125672

 

[Scott Summers]

The target is clear: Turkish-Somali agreement.

They dont want Turkey in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.

Can you imagine, Turkey searching for oil in Somali EEZ and finding it.

Al Shabab has Western and Israeli connections.

 

[Kartal1]

Raising questions... no shit!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1769106388364472510

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1769165784448680260

#Somalia’s Police Commissioner Gen. Sulub Ahmed fired some #Mogadishu district police commissioners and appointed new ones in response to a security breach after Alshabab militants attacked the SYL hotel, located in a fortified area in the heart of Mogadishu. The attackers passed through heavily guarded checkpoints, prompting serious questions from the public about how they gained access to reach the SYL hotel.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1769133738720469260

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1769126942190584035