)
UPDATED: Al-Shabaab launched a fierce counter-attack on Friday. See below for details
At least ten civilians have been killed and nearly 20 others were injured during an exchange of mortar shells between Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union troops (AMISOM) against al-Shabaab insurgents in Mogadishu on Thursday. Most of the civilian casualties occurred in the districts of Hiliwa, Kaaraan, Yaaqshid and Shibis after AMISOM and TFG responded to shelling from the militants.
Eyewitnesses confirmed to Somalia Report that a mortar hit Hiliwaa district, an insurgent stronghold, killing seven residents including three from one family who were shredded by the explosion. More mortars landed in the district injuring nine people, mainly women and children.
“It was a horrible and terrifying incident. Three people from one family died in one place. We believe that the mortars were coming from AMISOM bases in Mogadishu,” Ibrahim Gadaaley, a resident in Hiliwaa district, told Somalia Report. “We carried more than ten injured civilians to the hospital who were not even part of the fight. What has AMISOM done?”
Another mortar hit in Dharkinley district of Mogadishu, a government stronghold, killing two civilian and injuring six others.
Ahmed Daaacd, one of the nurses of Keysanney Hospital, told Somalia Report that they received 15 injured people and three of them died in the hospital.
AMISOM Spokesman Paddy Akunda denied that his troops shelled at the populated area, and accused the insurgents of being responsible for the civilian casualties.
“Al-Shabaab are the ones who are shelling the civilians. They want to ruin the image of AMISOM and the TFG,” he told Somalia Report. “They are firing the mortars in all directions and killing everyone in order to blame us and portray a bad picture of us.”
AMISOM confirmed that al-Shabaab burned one of their tanks on Friday morning.
Communications, Businesses Affected
Meanwhile yesterday’s fighting between government forces and al-Shabaab has badly affected communication and the community at large by destroying popular business centers.
Residents of Mogadishu told Somalia Report that Somalia’s largest internet network, Global Internet Service, has been out of service since Thursday after TFG troops seized the compound of the company in Bakara Market.
Danan Radio, an FM station in Mogadishu, is also out of service for the second day. Officials from the radio station told Somalia Report that they can’t go back on air due to the heavy fighting in the surrounding area.
“We can’t even save the communication equipment of the radio station. I’m on the outskirts of Mogadishu for the second day,” Aweys Hassan Mohamed, the general editor of Danan Radio, told our correspondent. “The warring sides took defensive places near the compound of the station.”
Witness told Somalia Report that some of the business centers in Bakara and Suuq-bacaad markets have been destroyed by the heavy shelling.
“Wiif business center, Nation link center (Suuq-bacaad branch), and Gargaar business center were all destroyed by the mortars,” said Hassan Nuh, a resident in Yaaqshid district. Speaking to the government troops in Wardhigley district of Mogadishu, the Deputy Chief Commander of Somali National Forces, Genera Abdihakin Yusuf Dhego Badan, ordered his troops in Mogadishu to eliminate the insurgents from the capital before the Islamic Eid begins in early September.
Counter Attack
Residents in Wardhiigley district told Somalia Report that fighting erupted on Friday after al-Shabaab launched a fierce counter attack around Ali-kamiin conjunction and General Da’ud road, which were seized by AMISOM-TFG forces on Thursday.
“The intensity is very high and we are are very fearful. The bullets are falling on our houses and no one can go out,” said Anisa Haji, a resident in Laba-dhagah village of Mogadishu. ”We don't even have a chance to flee the area. We are still in the houses we entered two days ago.”
The number of casualties were unclear as the fighting is spreading to other areas like Laba-dhagah-village, Hamar-bile, Hamar-jadiid, Baar-Ayaan and Furayaasha.
A witness in the insurgent stronghold district of Suqa-Holaha, told Somalia Report that he saw the bodies of six AMISOM soldiers being dragged by al-Shabaab fighters from place to place.
“After the evening prayers, a vehicle carrying six bodies of AMISOM troops arrived the village and the people started to drag the bodies from place to other,” said Kafi Omar.
Although the fighting slowed down late on Friday, residents in Mogadishu fear that clashes that will erupt in the capital at any time due to the extremely tense situation.