Saturday, May 30, 2026 (Baidoa Online)- New casualty reports have emerged following the heavy fighting that erupted in Baidoa earlier on Saturday after forces loyal to Southwest State President Abdulaziz Hassan Mohamed, known as Laftagareen, launched an operation in and around the city.
Reporters on the ground have confirmed seeing at least four soldiers lying dead on the streets of Baidoa in areas affected by the clashes. The identities and affiliations of the deceased soldiers have not yet been officially confirmed.
According to internal security sources, the death toll from the fighting has risen to at least 10 soldiers. The sources indicated that the casualties occurred during intense confrontations that took place after pro-Laftagareen forces advanced into parts of the city during the early hours of Saturday.
The fighting, which spread across several neighborhoods, caused widespread disruption throughout the day and forced many residents to remain indoors amid concerns over their safety. Witnesses reported hearing sustained gunfire and seeing military vehicles moving through key areas of the city.
Despite reports that forces loyal to Laftagareen initially gained ground and entered strategic locations within Baidoa, later developments suggested that the forces carried out a tactical withdrawal from some of the areas they had earlier occupied. The reasons behind the withdrawal remain unclear.
Officials have not yet released an official casualty figure, and independent verification of the total number of deaths and injuries remains difficult due to the rapidly evolving security situation. Medical facilities in the city are also believed to have received wounded combatants, although the number of injured has not been confirmed.
The security situation in Baidoa remains tense, with reports of continued troop movements and heightened security measures across different parts of the city. Residents fear that further clashes could erupt if efforts to de-escalate the situation fail.
Authorities are expected to provide additional information as assessments of the fighting and its aftermath continue.
This is a developing story and casualty figures may be revised as more information becomes available.