Jubaland state has confirmed the deaths of two senior military commanders in fierce clashes with Somali federal government forces in the border town of Beledxaawo, near the Somali–Kenyan frontier.

Colonel Hussein Ali Hashi, widely known as Hussein Giif, and Commander Farhan Odowaa were killed on Monday when heavily armed federal troops targeted Jubaland positions in the town.

Jubaland’s First Vice President Mohamud Sayid Aden expressed “deep sorrow” over the loss, offering condolences to the families, colleagues and the people of Jubaland and Somalia.

“These were courageous officers who served with honour,” Aden said.

“Their passing is a tragic loss for our security forces and our community,” he noted.

Aden, who is serving his second term under President Madobe, extended sympathy to all Somali soldiers killed in the clashes and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

Local sources reported multiple casualties on both sides, though exact figures remain unverified.

Jubaland forces are said to have withdrawn across the Kenyan border following the fighting.

The violence on Tuesday is the latest flare-up in a long-running dispute over political control and the contested 2019 re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe.

Mogadishu accuses Madobe of inciting violence and undermining federal authority.

The semiautonomous Jubaland State maintains that the federal government is attempting to impose a parallel administration in Gedo through military force.

Both sides have traded accusations of foreign interference, with Mogadishu alleging Kenyan support for Jubaland. Nairobi has repeatedly denied those claims.

Beledxaawo, located in Somalia’s Gedo region, has been a flashpoint for years due to its strategic location.

Mandera-based analyst Hassan Aden warned that further escalation could undermine joint efforts against the armed group and destabilise critical border areas.

He said the presence of competing security forces, coupled with the town’s proximity to al-Shabaab-controlled territory, makes the situation particularly volatile.

A mortar shell struck a residential area in Mandera town’s Barwaqo neighbourhood on Monday evening, setting several houses on fire.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing “security operation” across Gedo region Jubaland.