In a tragic incident, a truck bomb explosion in the central Somali town of Beledweyne has claimed the lives of 18 people, according to Abdirahman Dahir Gure, the interior minister of Hirshabelle state. The explosion, which targeted a security checkpoint in a residential area, also left 40 individuals wounded. Out of the injured, 20 have been admitted to Beledweyne hospitals, while another 20 are in critical condition, prompting a request for their airlift to Mogadishu for advanced medical treatment.
The blast occurred as the Somali government intensifies its operations against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab armed group. It was caused by a truck loaded with explosive devices that forcibly passed through a government-manned checkpoint, with a pick-up vehicle belonging to security personnel chasing it when it exploded, as reported by witness Abdikadir Arba.
Videos shared on social media depict local residents searching for survivors amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings. Buildings and shops close to the blast site were reduced to rubble, leaving families anxiously searching for their loved ones.
It's important to note that no group has claimed responsibility for this explosion in Beledweyne, a town in central Somalia's Hiran region, which has recently witnessed clashes between the military and al-Shabab. The al-Qaeda-linked group has been escalating attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against them, aiming to overthrow the fragile internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.
President Mohamud, who has been visiting the front lines, expressed determination in August that government forces would "eliminate" the armed groups by the end of the year. Somalia continues to grapple with armed rebellion, primarily from al-Shabab and ISIS-linked armed groups, despite efforts to establish stability in the country.