Battle of Beledweyne (2011) explained

Conflict:	Battle of Beledweyne
Partof:	Somali Civil War, War in Somalia (2009-present)
Date:	December 2011 - 31 December 2021
Place:	Hiraan
Result:	Ethiopian-TFG Victory
Territory:	Ethiopian forces capture Beledweyne
Combatant1:	Al-Shabaab Foreign Mujahideen
Combatant2:	Somalia Ethiopia
Commander1:	Sheikh Abu Mus'ab
Commander2:	Sharif Ahmed Abdiweli Mohamed Ali
Strength2:	3,000
Casualties3:	20 from both sides

In December 2011, Ethiopian forces recaptured the central Somali town of Beledweyne from Al-Shabaab fighters.

The Fighting

al-Shabbab claimed to have repelled three Ethiopian attacks and then made a "tactical withdrawal". Ethiopian-TFG forces easily captured the town;^[1] however, residents still feared that the al-Shabbab would return and fight for the town. Eyewitnesses claimed both sides used heavy artillery and weapons.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Notes and References

1. News: Somali Govt. troops retake key central Somali town . 2011-12-31 . Mareeg.com .
2. Web site: News article . . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20130923155946/http://shabelle.net/article.php/?id=14012 . September 23, 2013 .
3. Web site: Govt. troops retake key central Somali town . Shabelle . 2012-02-17 . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20130923160540/http://shabelle.net/article.php/?id=13998 . September 23, 2013 .
4. Web site: Sheikh . Abdi . Feisal . Omar . Ethiopia troops attack rebels in Somali town - residents . . 2011-12-31 . 2012-02-17.
5. Web site: Ethiopian troops capture Beledweyne from Somalia militants . . 2011-12-31 . 2012-02-17.