At least three civilians were killed and seven seriously wounded after Al-Shabaab militants shelled Galgala in Puntland, as fighting with regional security forces intensified in the Cal Madow mountains.
BOSASO (Somali Report) — At least three civilians were killed and seven others seriously wounded when Al-Shabaab militants shelled the village of Galgala in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region on Wednesday, local sources said.
The attack began in the morning when the militants, who maintain positions in the Cal Madow mountains, fired mortars at Puntland security force positions in Galgala, part of the Bosaso district, according to the sources.
The shelling triggered several minutes of exchanges between the two sides, although the full extent of the casualties among Puntland forces and Al-Shabaab fighters remains unknown.
The attack came days after Puntland security forces conducted operations targeting Al-Shabaab positions in the Cal Madow mountain range, a longstanding stronghold of the militant group.
Puntland authorities recently said their forces had killed four men suspected of belonging to Al-Shabaab who were allegedly planting landmines along roads used by security personnel in the Galgala mountains.
Military officials have also linked the group to a landmine explosion that killed a local elder in Galgala. Security personnel were also killed and wounded in related incidents, according to the officials.
Puntland forces later conducted an operation in the area, during which two militants reportedly died from injuries sustained in a bombardment, military officials said.
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The authorities have not released a comprehensive assessment of the latest fighting or independently verified casualty figures.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group, has waged an insurgency against Somalia's federal government for more than 15 years, carrying out attacks against security forces, government officials and civilians.
While the group is primarily active in southern and central Somalia, it also maintains a presence in Puntland's mountainous areas, where difficult terrain has complicated efforts to eliminate its fighters.
Puntland has stepped up military operations in the Cal Madow range in an effort to weaken the group's presence. The regional administration has also announced Operation Unkod, a campaign targeting Al-Shabaab militants operating in the mountainous area.
The latest attack highlights the continuing security challenges facing Puntland forces as they seek to dislodge the militants from their strongholds.
Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia, maintains its own security forces and has conducted repeated offensives against Al-Shabaab and other armed groups.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about Wednesday's clashes or announced additional measures following the shelling.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
