MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali security forces ended a deadly overnight siege at Mogadishu’s SYL Hotel early Thursday, killing all eight Al-Shabab attackers after a 14-hour stand-off that left 21 dead and 37 wounded. The assault targeted government officials near the presidential palace compound.
The attack began at 9:45 PM local time Wednesday, when a suicide car bomber detonated explosives at the hotel’s main gate, followed by heavily armed militants storming the building. Security forces rescued 165 civilians during the operation, including six members of parliament who were dining at the hotel.
Casualty Breakdown:
- 13 civilians killed (including 3 hotel staff)
- 5 security personnel slain in initial assault
- 3 government officials among dead
- 8 Al-Shabab attackers eliminated
- 37 wounded hospitalized
“This was a complex attack aimed at maximum carnage,” stated Police Commissioner Gen. Sulub Ahmed Firin. “Our forces prevented greater tragedy by containing the militants to the first two floors.” The SYL Hotel – frequently attacked due to its proximity to Villa Somalia (presidential compound) – last suffered a major assault in 2023.
Key Developments:
- New Tactics: Attackers used drones to drop grenades on responding forces
- High-Value Targets: Deputy Finance Minister Abdullahi Mohamed escaped unharmed
- Regional Response: ATMIS peacekeepers secured perimeter during siege
- Al-Shabab Claim: Militants boasted of targeting “apostate officials” in statement
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the “cowardly attack” during an emergency security council meeting, ordering intensified operations against Al-Shabab strongholds in Middle Shabelle region. The siege marks the group’s first major hotel assault in Mogadishu since August 2023.
