Tue Mar 11 11:17:01 UTC 2025: ## Somalia Hotel Siege: Gunmen Storm Baladweyne Hotel, Casualties Reported
**Mogadishu, Somalia –** A deadly siege is underway at the Qahira Hotel in Baladweyne, central Somalia, after gunmen stormed the building Tuesday afternoon, according to witnesses and officials. The hotel was hosting a meeting of local elders and government officials at the time of the attack.
Federal lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow reported at least four deaths, with the casualty count expected to rise. The Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, claiming over 10 fatalities.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos, beginning with a large explosion followed by sustained gunfire and further blasts. Parts of the hotel have been destroyed in the ensuing firefight between government troops and the attackers. The siege continues, with intermittent gunfire reported.
Al-Shabaab, which seeks to overthrow the Somali government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islamic law, frequently carries out attacks across the country. This latest incident highlights the ongoing instability and violence plaguing Somalia.
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