| Conflict: | Battle of El Dher |
| Place: | El Dher District |
| Partof: | Somali Civil War and Somali civil war (2009–present) |
| Date: | 04:00—09:11 |
| Combatant1: | Al-Shabaab |
| Combatant2: |  Somalia---- ATMIS |
| Units1: | Al-Shabaab
|
| Units2: | Somali Armed Forces
----
|
| Result: |
|
| Commander2: | Lt. Col. Yonis Hassan Sabriye Lt. Col. Abdulle Mohamud Abdi[2] |
| Commander1: | Unknown |
| Casualties1: | 60+ militants killed (Somali Government claim)[3] [4] |
| Casualties2: | 59+ SNA killed (Al-Shabaab claim) 5 killed (Somali Government claim)[5] |
| Casualties3: | 20+ civilians killed[6] |
| Map Mark: | Somalia location map.svg |
On June 8, 2024, Al-Shabaab militants attacked four military bases and overran the town of El Dher for several hours, killing many soldiers of the Somali National Force. The militants were eventually defeated by a U.S.-assisted airstrike. This was the deadliest terrorist attack since the Aws Wayne debacle.[7] [8] [9] [10]
For months, security observers believed Al-Shabaab was going to attack El-Dher and Harardhere as both towns host forward operating bases. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited both towns in early April to show solidarity with the forces.[11] Al-Shabaab had previously attacked Harardhere in late April, but government troops repulsed that attack and inflicted losses on Al-Shabaab.[12]
The attack on El Dher began at pre-dawn around 4 am local time on Saturday with Al-Shabaab employing three suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs) to breach the defenses of the Somali National Army bases.[13] The initial assault caused confusion and panic both SNA and forces, leading some to flee their positions.[14] The militants detonated explosives on at least two camps, followed by an infantry attack.[15]
Government forces reportedly launched a counterattack with the support of airstrikes, attempting to regain control of the situation. The fighting lasted for hours, and reinforcement forces from Masagaway town ambushed Al-Shabaab, inflicting losses on the militant fighters.[16]
In the aftermath of the battle, conflicting claims emerged from both sides. The Somali government claimed to have killed 47 Al-Shabaab fighters, although no bodies were presented as evidence.[3] They reported that 9 militants were killed in the first phase of the attack outside El-Dheer, followed by an ambush near Ali Yabaal village where 18 militants were killed.[8] An airstrike targeted the remaining Al-Shabaab fighters in Ali Yabaal village, killing at least 20 fighters.[3]
On the other hand, Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed dozens of SNA soldiers and Macawisley militia members, including two colonels, which was partially confirmed by Facebook obituaries.[6] Al-Shabaab also claimed to have killed 59 soldiers and fighters and published purported pictures of their fighters in at least one camp they claimed to have overrun.[5] [1]
Two military officers, Colonel Yonis Hassan Sabriye and Colonel Abdulle Mohamud Abdi, were confirmed killed in the attack.[2] Communication in the town has been restored, and Somali officials stated that the militants suffered heavy losses.[3]
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed condemned the attack and suggested three measures the government could take to prevent Al-Shabaab ambushes.[17]
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs released statement regarding the terrorist attack in Somalia.[18]