Six killed in clashes between al-Shabaab and local forces in Somalia’s Hiiraan region

At least six people were killed in fierce fighting late Wednesday in Halaalay, a village near Halgan in Somalia's Hiiraan region, as local defence forces clashed with Al-Shabaab militants in the latest chapter of the country's prolonged battle against the Islamist group.

Two local militia fighters and four Al-Shabaab combatants were confirmed dead, according to a resident who spoke to Hiiraan Online. The skirmish, which erupted in the late afternoon, is part of a larger campaign by Somali federal forces and community militias to dislodge Al-Shabaab from its strongholds in central Somalia.

For weeks, sporadic clashes have flared along a corridor between Halgan and Bula Burte, disrupting daily life in an already fragile region. Al-Shabaab fighters, entrenched in positions east of the Shabelle River, have been crossing westward to launch attacks on local forces. Despite significant military pressure, the group maintains a foothold in Hiiraan, exploiting its rural terrain to resist government advances.

"These battles are taking a toll," said a local elder, who declined to be named for security reasons. "The people here want peace, but the fighting continues, and we're stuck in the middle."