Al-Shabaab militants earlier today ambushed Ethiopian troops that had just arrived from Ethiopia to reinforce their forces in Wajid. The ambush happened in a remote location near Rabdhure, around 20 kilometres from the Ethiopian border, in Somalia’s Bakool region.
Rabdhure, Bakool region, Southwest State, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
According to our reliable sources in the area, the attack targeted the first convoy of Ethiopian troops consisting of 18 military vehicles. Al-Shabaab used two suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIED) to launch the attack, followed by heavy gunfire. Both sides received reinforcements during the fighting.
The convoy has reportedly not reached Wajid as of the time of writing. The fighting ceased after the Ethiopians received air support.
What did al-Shabaab say?
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the ambush, boasting that they had successfully killed at least 167 Ethiopian soldiers. In a statement it released shortly after the attack, al-Shabaab declared, “In the early hours of Sunday morning, forces from Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen carried out a successful ambush against a large convoy of Ethiopian crusaders from the so-called African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), killing more than 167 crusaders and capturing others as prisoners of war.” The extremists often use the term “crusaders” when referring to foreigners in Somalia.
Regarding the number of alleged casualties, it should be noted that the group often exaggerates its battlefield claims. Our source reported that casualties were high on both sides – among al-Shabaab and the Ethiopian soldiers.
The statement continued, detailing the attack’s ferocity: “The ambush, which took place near Rabdhure, in the Islamic Wilaayah [Province] of Bakool, inflicted heavy losses on the Ethiopian crusaders, halting their advance, destroying their military vehicles, and seizing a cache of weapons and ammunition. The blessed ambush came after the Ethiopian crusaders crossed the colonial Somali-Ethiopia border to reinforce the troops in their Forward Operating Base in Wajid.”
Phase II of ATMIS withdrawal started
Reports indicate that the ambushed troops did not officially belong under ATMIS. As of now, Ethiopia’s army has not issued official statements regarding the ambush. The incident occurred amidst ATMIS’s announcement of initiating Phase II of troop withdrawal from Somalia.
The first Forward Operating Base (FOB) to be handed over to Somali government forces in this drawdown is Biyo Adde (Biyo Cadde) in the Middle Shabelle region. Until today, this FOB was under the responsibility of the Burundi National Defence Forces, which is part of ATMIS. The phased withdrawal of ATMIS troops has been a significant development in Somalia’s security landscape, aiming to transfer more control to Somali government forces. However, the ambush of Ethiopian soldiers underscores the complex and volatile security environment that persists in the region.
Read also: ATMIS concludes the first phase of troop withdrawal from Somalia
