# Somali army clashes with rebel forces for control of key city Baidoa

https://mins.news/en/item/24394

- Al Jazeera, 2026-08-17 16:24 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/somali-army-clashes-with-rebel-forces-for-control-of-key-city-baidoa?traffic_source=rss

> Somalia’s federal forces say they drove opposition fighters from Baidoa after intense clashes involving explosives and dozens of casualties. The Defence Ministry said fighters loyal to former South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen used explosive-laden vehicles and fought alongside al-Shabab, while his camp claimed it had seized the city centre.

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