Mogadishu Hotel Siege Ends with 5 Attackers Killed

A 13-hour siege of a hotel near Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu ended with the killing of al-Shabab fighters by security forces, resulting in three soldiers killed and 27 people wounded. The attack, claimed by al-Shabab, highlighted the group's ability to strike the capital despite military efforts by the government, local militias, and international support. Al-Shabab, which has been waging war against the Somali government for over 16 years, continues to maintain a strong presence in rural Somalia and has carried out numerous attacks, including on the SYL Hotel, a high-security area opposite the presidential palace.