Heavy Fighting Erupts in Baidoa as Fighter Jets and Drones Join Clashes

BAIDOA () — Heavy fighting erupted in Baidoa on Monday as forces loyal to former South West State President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen launched an assault against forces aligned with the Federal Government, with fighter jets and drones reportedly used during the clashes.

Local authorities said between 2,000 and 3,000 fighters entered the city from several directions, using armed vehicles and explosive drones. Somali government forces said they confronted the attackers and pushed them out of the city.

Residents reported intense fighting across several parts of Baidoa, with explosions and airstrikes causing widespread fear among civilians. At least three people were reported killed and 69 injured, according to Médecins Sans Frontières, while a health facility was also seriously damaged.

A senior Somali army commander, Mohamed Ali, said the attackers used vehicles loaded with explosives and explosive drones but were repelled by government forces. However, a spokesperson for Laftagareen’s forces rejected allegations that they were fighting alongside Al-Shabaab, saying the confrontation was solely between their forces and those representing the federal government.

The spokesperson also accused Turkey of supporting the federal government with F-16 fighter aircraft. Turkey has emerged as a major military partner of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and has deployed fighter jets to Somalia. Residents reported missile strikes from Turkish aircraft around the outskirts of Baidoa, although the claims have not been independently verified.

The latest fighting is the third major outbreak of violence in Baidoa in six weeks, according to MSF. The renewed clashes come amid a broader political confrontation over the future of South West State and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s efforts to move Somalia toward direct elections.

The conflict also highlights the increasingly dangerous overlap between Somalia’s political disputes and its security challenges. The use of drones and fighter aircraft in fighting between Somali factions raises concerns about the potential escalation of the country’s internal political crisis into a wider armed confrontation, with civilians bearing much of the immediate cost.