BAIDOA(Halbeeg News) – At least eight soldiers have been killed in Al-Shabaab dawn attack on a military base in Gofgadud Burey village in Bay region.
Heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters have reportedly attacked the military base manned by Somali army prompting fierce fighting between the sides.
Reports say the clash caused heavy casualties on both sides as fighting lasted for almost an hour.
According to sources who to spoke to Halbeeg News, the fighting claimed lives of eight soldiers including a commander identified as Hassan Isak Mohamed Indhagadud.
Mr. Hassan was the commander of the 43rd unit of the 60th Division of Somali National Army based in the area.
In a statement posted on the group’s affiliate media, Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the attack saying its fighters ran over the base.
Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed over ten soldiers and seized huge cache of weapons but Somali army dismissed the claims.
The military officials who declined to give details of the attack and the subsequent fighting denied the claims of Al-Shabab that they ran over the base adding that Somali soldiers repelled the attack and are still in control of the area.
The attack comes amid Somali forces backed African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have vowed to intensify the operations against Al-Shabaab fighters in South and central.
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