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
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington

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

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly: Israeli media

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza: Israeli media

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