Somalia Govt: Al-Shabaab Army Base Attacks Repelled in Middle Shabelle

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Shabaab militants on Sunday attacked four military bases in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, claiming to have destroyed military vehicles and seized weapons, while the government said its forces had repelled the assaults. The group said its fighters overran Somali army positions in the areas of Jabad-Godane, Ruun-Sheekhoow, Shaasqaad and Burka-Kaah, on the outskirts of the coastal town of Warsheikh, about a two-hour drive north of the capital, Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab released images it said showed four seized military vehicles, three of them mounted with anti-aircraft guns, as well as the bodies of soldiers and a small surveillance drone. In a statement, the Somali government said its army had repelled an Al-Shabaab attack on military posts in Jabad-Godane and had launched clearing operations to prevent any remaining militants from hiding in the area. There was no independent confirmation of the claims made by either side. The attacks come amid a militant advance in coastal areas of the Middle Shabelle region. Contact us: inf@somaliguardian.com