Hiiraan – (Raxanreeb Online)-Al-Shabaab militants have seized control of Maxaas town in the Hiiraan region following a heavy and coordinated assault on government forces and allied local militias.

According to reliable sources in the area, the attack began in the early hours of the morning when Al-Shabaab fighters launched a surprise offensive on the village of Gorof, located just outside Maxaas. The area was being guarded by units of the Somali National Army (SNA) and community defense forces. The militants reportedly used suicide bombings to breach defensive positions, triggering hours of fierce combat.

Witnesses confirmed that both government troops and local fighters retreated from Maxaas in the wake of the assault, allowing Al-Shabaab forces to move in and take full control of the town.

Unverified reports indicate that several government soldiers, including senior officers, may have been killed in the fighting. However, there has been no official statement from the Somali Armed Forces or Hiiraan regional officials at the time of publication.

The capture of Maxaas marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in central Somalia, where government forces, backed by local fighters, have been conducting operations aimed at reclaiming key areas from Al-Shabaab control. In recent days, attention had been focused on preparations to retake the strategic town of Moqokori, further highlighting the setback posed by the fall of Maxaas.

The situation on the ground remains fluid, and further updates are expected as the Somali government assesses its response.