Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Somalia bombing toll reaches 21

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Sep 2023 20:02
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

A suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives into a security checkpoint in Beledweyne on Saturday.

  • x
  • Somalia bombing toll reaches 21
    A screengrab of a video shows smoke rising after an explosion in Beledweyne in Somalia on September 23, 2023 (AP)

The death toll from a truck bombing in central Somalia grew to 21, as rescue teams crawled through the wreckage to find additional victims trapped beneath shattered bricks, concrete, and metal.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden truck towards a security checkpoint in the town of Beledweyne, sparking an explosion that burned neighboring buildings, trapped inhabitants, and injured others.

Somali Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan announced Saturday that 13 severely injured people were evacuated and moved to Mogadishu for intensive care.

Ahmed Yare Adan, a local police officer, told AFP that the death toll went up from 13 to 21 after dead bodies were uncovered from beneath destroyed buildings. Some, he noted were "burnt beyond recognition."

Read more: More than 100 al Shabaab terrorists killed in military operation

He added that people were still in search of their family members, unaware if they had survived or not.

Deputy commander of the Beledweyne police station, Sayid Ali, told AFP that a busy neighborhood housing residential buildings and businesses was targeted.

Related News

Turkey to supply Somalia’s military with combat helicopters: Bloomberg

Somalia suicide bombing kills at least 11 at Mogadishu military base

"The search and clearing operation is going on at the site of the explosion," Ali remarked.

The Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud vowed to eliminate al Shabaab militants following the attack, adding that incidents like yesterday's will not deter the Somalian government from eliminating them.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack; however, al Shabaab, which was forced out of Mogadishu in 2011 still controls large swaths of the countryside.

ATMIS condemns the attack 

An African Union force was sent to Somalia in 2007 with a six-month mission but is still present.

The head of ATMIS, Mohamed El-Amine Souef criticized Saturday's explosion, saying it was "a heinous attack on innocent civilians intended to divert attention" away from the losses incurred by al Shabaab as a result of Mogadishu's onslaught last year.

Last year, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched an "all-out war" against al Shabaab, which retains power in large swathes of rural areas and continues to carry out attacks against security and civilian targets, including in the capital, Mogadishu.

However, Somalia's national security adviser recently requested a 90-day extension in the scheduled withdrawal of 3,000 ATMIS personnel by the end of September in a letter to the United Nations.

The request, obtained by AFP, explained that the government "managed to re-liberate towns, villages, and critical supply routes" during its onslaught but had suffered "several significant setbacks" since late August.

In early September, more than 30 Al-Qaeda-linked al Shabaab terrorists were killed while attempting an attack in the Qoryoley district in the Lower Shabelle region, during an operation carried out by the Somali Armed Forces and their international partners, state-run Somali news agency SONNA reported on Saturday.

  • Al-Shabaab
  • Somalia
  • Suicide Bombing
  • terror attack

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS