In an overnight attack in central Somalia, Al-Shabab fighters killed at least 18 civilians and burned trucks carrying food aid.
In the Hiran region of the central Somalian state of Hirshabelle, an armed group launched the assault. According to locals on Saturday, the trucks were delivering food supplies from Baladweyne city to Mahas town.
“Al-Shabab killed 18 civilians and burnt … several trucks of relief food heading to Mahas town last night,” said Farah Aden, a local elder.
Al-Shabab fighters reportedly set fire to the trucks and "killed the majority of the individuals on board the vehicles," according to the official news agency Sonna.
Armed locals chased the assailants away last week, according to Aden, but the government did not send troops to help stop them from coming back.
“Al-Shabab is doing all these things in order to make us surrender. But we shall never surrender to al-Shabab as long as there is soul in us. Government forces have not reached the scene yet,” Aden said.
For more than ten years, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group has fought against Somalia's national government. Using a rigorous interpretation of Islamic law, it seeks to impose its own laws.
The gang routinely attacks both military and civilian targets with bombs, gunfire, and other means.
In an attack last month, al-Shabab terrorists attacked the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu, setting off a 30-hour struggle as government troops tried to break the siege and release captives. More than 20 people were murdered in the attack.