The Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen has successfully fired 3 mortar rounds targeting the Villa Somalia, the Presidential Palace and Residence of the President of Somalia in the capital Mogadishu. Villa Somalia, a heavily fortified compound and complex houses dozens of embassies and UN agencies. The complex has become a target of the terror group, with mortar fire remaining choice weapon after the group failed to breach its security.
Intelligence and imagery accessed by S.I shows the shells were fired accurately with one targeting the Ethiopian Embassy suite in the palace. This means the mortar team responsible was able to accurately calibrate the launcher to zero-in the target with optimal precision. Another 2 shells struck outside the Palace compound in Wardhigley District damaging property and injuring several and killing at least 1 person.
The The Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen has demonstrated its capability to adapt and deploy new attack methods in Somalia. The terror group is switching methods of attacks to achieve objectives further confirming its ability to dynamically adapt and survive continued degradation operations by both AMISOM and the United States. This ability to morph strategies and fuse new methods of attacks with traditional insurgency techniques is aimed at preserving troops and ensuring rank and file remains robust.
