Late on 14 March 2024, five heavily armed al-Shabab militants stormed the Syl Hotel, located near the presidential palace in central Mogadishu. Continual gunfire was reported at the hotel, which is known to host federal officials and legislators, after the detonation of a car bomb at the building’s entrance gate. According to government officials, a second car bomb was detonated several minutes after the militants entered the building and engaged in a gunbattle with hotel security personnel. Somali security forces responding to the attack killed all five assailants after hourslong siege. At least three soldiers were killed and 27 people were wounded in the attack, including nine soldiers. Al-Shabab has attacked Syl hotel on multiple occasions in the past.