Battle of Beledweyne (2008)

Battle of Beledweyne (2008)
Part of the War and Insurgency in Somalia
Date July 1 2008– Location Beledweyne, Somalia Result Ongoing
Belligerents
File:Somalia Islamic Courts Flag.svg Hizbul Shabaab	Ethiopia
Casualties and losses
35 killed (Witnesses' claim) 71 killed (Ethiopian claim)	47 killed
1 civilian killed

The July 2008 Battle of Beledweyne began on July 1 2008 when Islamic militants from the Somali Islamic Courts attacked the town of Beledweyne which was defended by a garison of Ethiopian troops.

Background

At the begining of June 2008 Islamist forces started taking whole districts across central parts of Somalia. In the Bay region, northwest of Mogadishu, al Shabaab insurgents entered the district of Qansah-Dheere on June 7 2008, and took control without facing any resistance. Residents said there were no government troops present when the insurgents arrived.

On June 23 2008, Islamist forces captured Bardale, entirely encircling Baidoa and cutting off the highway to Dolo. The next day Islamist forces establish control of Bardhere unopposed, signaling a definitive shift of Marehan clan affiliation solidly into the Islamist column. After that, on June 28 2008, Islamist forces peacefully retook the strategic city of Beledweyne after the Ethiopian garrison withdraws from the area. Some looting of government facilities occurred, but Islamist commanders called on locals to return stolen property and uphold the peace. Some heavy fighting however did occure at the town of Guguriel, which is where the Ethiopians had withdrawn to after vacating Beledweyne.

The Battle

The fighting started July 1 2008, when Somali opposition fighters ambushed an Ethiopian army convoy travelling from Guguriel in retreat toward the Ethiopian border. The fighting in the Mataban locality left 47 Ethiopian soldiers and 35 Islamist fighters dead. Three Ethiopian military vehicles were destroyed and two captured by the insurgents. 11 of the dead Ethiopians were senior and junior officers. It was a mayor victory by the insurgents over the Ethiopian army. Ethiopian troops withdrew to Ferfer across the border. As for the civilian casualties of the Mataban battle it was confirmed that a child was among those killed.

On July 3 2008, Ethiopian troops commenced a counter attack over the border against the insurgents in an attempt to retake Beledweyne. An Ethiopian column supported by tanks and artillery drove southeast from Ferfer and engaged Islamic Courts forces in Elgal in the mountainous northwestern outskirts of Beledweyn. The Ethiopian force pounded Islamist positions heavily with ballistic missiles. Later in the day the Ethiopian force advanced to Jandkundisho, a suburb of Beledweyn, and continued to pound the hills surrounding Beledweyne.