Wednesday August 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A remote-controlled landmine struck a
convoy of Ethiopian troops in Somalia’s Waajid district on Tuesday, causing an
unknown number of casualties, security sources said.
The explosion targeted vehicles carrying Ethiopian soldiers
operating under the African Union peacekeeping mission in Bakool region.
Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire following the blast as
troops blocked the road and restricted traffic for several hours before
withdrawing from the area.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in
a statement that it killed at least three Ethiopian soldiers and wounded four
others. The group also alleged it burned one of the military vehicles in the
convoy.
Hiiraan Online could not independently verify these claims,
and neither the Ethiopian military command nor the South West State
administration has commented on the incident.
The attack underscores the persistent threat posed by the
al-Qaeda-linked group, which has intensified assaults on African Union troops
and Somali government forces across southern Somalia in recent months.