On June 17, 2022, a large Al-Shabaab force attacked the Sufi town of Baxdo, in the Galguduud region of Galmudug State, in central Somalia. Somali security forces stationed in the area, along with armed local forces, waged a battle with the militants and repulsed the raid. After the incident, documentation of an Al-Shabaab Toyota Land Cruiser SVBIED with heavy improvised armor and dozens of jerrycan IEDs in the trunk was released. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the raid. As early as 2018, there have been reports of armored SVBIEDs produced by Al-Shabaab. However, it is unclear how common this TTP is among the group’s operatives. Armor protection for vehicles is a vital element in the success of Al-Shabaab attacks against military posts, especially when the group attempts to takeover towns and villages in areas protected by military bases.
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