MOGADISHU, Somalia — June 20, 2026 —Al Shabaab militants fired mortar shells at a Somali government military base in Xero Baraxow, located in Baardheere district of the Gedo region, according to local residents and security sources. The projectiles reportedly landed inside the compound, though full details on casualties and damage remain unclear.
According to local sources, the attack occurred when mortar rounds were launched toward the base housing government forces. Residents in nearby areas reported hearing multiple explosions and heavy security movement following the incident.
According to local residents in Baardheere, several mortar shells struck the Xero Baraxow military installation during the attack. Witnesses said the explosions were heard across parts of the district, causing concern among civilians living near the area.
According to security sources, the base targeted is used by Somali government forces operating in the wider Gedo region, where military activity against Al Shabaab has continued for years.
Al Shabaab, through affiliated communications often cited in similar incidents, frequently claims responsibility for mortar attacks and ambushes targeting Somali government positions. These claims could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
There were no immediate official reports confirming casualties among soldiers or civilians, and authorities have yet to provide a detailed assessment of the situation.
According to security officials in the region, forces stationed at the base responded after the mortar impacts and increased security patrols in and around Baardheere district.
Military operations in Gedo often involve coordination between federal government forces and regional security units, especially in response to insurgent activity attributed to Al Shabaab.
Baardheere district in the Gedo region has long been a contested area in Somalia’s wider conflict involving government forces and Al Shabaab militants.
The group has conducted repeated mortar attacks, roadside bombings, and direct assaults on military positions across southern and central Somalia. Government bases and supply routes in regions such as Gedo have frequently been targeted due to their strategic importance.
Security operations in the region have included periodic offensives by Somali forces aimed at disrupting militant mobility and reducing their operational capacity. Despite these efforts, Al Shabaab continues to demonstrate the ability to carry out attacks on fixed military positions and towns.
Xero Baraxow, like several other military installations in southern Somalia, is part of the broader security network supporting government control efforts in the region.
The mortar attack in Baardheere reflects the continued ability of Al Shabaab to strike government military positions despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations. Such attacks demonstrate the group’s reliance on indirect fire and hit and run tactics to pressure security forces.
The Gedo region remains strategically important due to its location and its role in cross border movement routes. Continued insecurity in the area complicates stabilization efforts and limits the expansion of consistent government control.
Repeated attacks on military bases also place pressure on Somali security forces, requiring constant defensive readiness and diverting resources from broader stabilization and governance activities.