At least 20 Al-Shabaab militants were killed Tuesday in a heavy fighting between Somali National Army and the militant group at a military base near Baidoa town in Bay region, 250 km southwest of Mogadishu.
Somali National Army (SNA) Commander in Division 60 based in Bay region, Ismail Khalif Shire told the state media that 20 Al-Shabaab militants attempted to attack their base there were killed during the battle.
“Al-Shabaab militants attacked our army base at Daynunay near Baidoa town in Bay region this morning. The SNA overpowered and shot dead 20 of them on the spot,” Shire said.
He declined to say if there were casualties on their sides. However, Al-Shabaab militants claimed victory in the attack in which the insurgents claimed to have taken over the army base.
The group said that it captured the SNA base of Daynunay and killed 10 government soldiers. Baidoa town is the administrative capital of Southwest State in Somalia.
The latest incident comes after security forces killed at least six Al-Shabaab militants and captured three others in Bur-hakabo town in Bay region this week.
Six of the militants blew up themselves, according to government officials earlier this week.
The militants have recently increased their attacks against AU and Somali forces in the Lower Shabelle region, which has seen a surge of attacks that resulted in the loss of several strategic towns although the militants mainly held those towns briefly.
The AMISOM forces have also increased airstrikes in southern Somalia in the recent past, resolving in the killing of more than 50 militants late last month.
china.org.cn
