Somali security forces have successfully thwarted an attack on a prominent hotel in the capital city of Mogadishu, according to national television reports on Friday.
The Syl Hotel, typically frequented by government officials and lawmakers, was targeted in the assault, which was claimed by al Shabaab militants. Security services swiftly surrounded the hotel following the attack.
The Somali government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident, which occurred near the president’s office on Thursday evening.
“Security forces have effectively neutralized all terrorists who assaulted the Syl hotel in Mogadishu,” announced Somali National Television (SNTV) in a social media post. “Further details will be provided by the Somali government soon.”
Eyewitnesses reported hearing an initial explosion followed by gunfire as the attackers breached the hotel. Subsequently, a second explosion occurred minutes later, according to witnesses and residents interviewed by Reuters on Thursday.
Al Shabaab, an extremist group, has been engaged in a relentless insurgency against Somalia’s federal government since 2006, seeking to establish its own governance based on its interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
Despite facing setbacks and territorial losses to government-backed forces in recent years, the militant organization still retains control over significant areas in southern and central Somalia. It continues to launch sporadic attacks targeting both civilian and military objectives.
In a previous attack in June, al Shabaab militants claimed the lives of nine individuals at the Pearl restaurant in the capital.
