MOGADISHU: Gunmen from Somali militant group al Shabaab today attacked a military base in central Somalia, killing at least four soldiers, officials and militants said.
Al Shabaab, which wants to topple a Western-backed government in Mogadishu, has in the past stepped up the number of raids during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began in mid-June and ends this week.
Captain Nur Olow, a military officer from Rage Ceele, in Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia, said two al Shabaab fighters were killed during the raid.
"Al Shabaab attacked us early in the morning - we lost four soldiers but repulsed them," Olow said.
Al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters his fighters had killed a dozen soldiers in the raid.
"We briefly seized the base and killed 12 soldiers and took their guns.
We also took all the weapons and ammunition in the base," he said.
In the past, al Shabaab has exaggerated the number of soldiers it has killed, while officials have played down losses.
Al Shabaab, which wants to topple a Western-backed government in Mogadishu, has in the past stepped up the number of raids during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began in mid-June and ends this week.
Captain Nur Olow, a military officer from Rage Ceele, in Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia, said two al Shabaab fighters were killed during the raid.
Al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters his fighters had killed a dozen soldiers in the raid.
Advertisement
We also took all the weapons and ammunition in the base," he said.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2015
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Al Shabaab Terrorists Capture UN Helicopter Carrying "Several Foreigners" 100 Killed In Twin Car Blasts In Somalia Somali Forces End Deadly Hotel Siege: Report Supreme Court Bench To Hear Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Today: 10 Points Elon Musk's Response After Trump Says He Would Make Him Adviser "Who Does He Think He Is?" Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump In Fiery Speech Doctor Says Air Travel Can Cause Sickness: "Seats, Armrests Harbour Viruses" "Who Does He Think He Is?" Joe Biden Blasts Donald Trump In Fiery Speech Tearful Biden Gets Huge Ovation At Democratic Convention Farewell Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.