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12 Somali soldiers fall in attack by al-Shabab militants south of Mogadishu

Somali soldiers stand guard after a bomb attack against a military intelligence base in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 21, 2015. (AFP)

The al-Shabab militants have killed 12 Somali soldiers in their latest attack carried out south of Mogadishu.

Authorities and witnesses said on Saturday that the assault took place on Friday at a military base in the Yaq-Bariweyne area, located about 100 kilometers (65 miles) south of the capital.

The militants reportedly raided the camp and plundered military supplies before leaving.

"The Shabab fighters took control of the camp and looted everything," said Abdirahman Somow, a local eyewitness.

Following the attack, Mohamed Adan, a Somali military official, said the fighting also left several militants dead.

The militant group claimed responsibility for the deadly raid in a statement, claiming that about fifteen soldiers were killed and “a huge amount of military supplies have been taken.”

The file photo shows soldiers belonging to the Somali National Army, as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), line up in a convoy on a road southwest of Mogadishu. (AFP)

 

The battle between AU, al-Shabab

The al-Shabab militants have recently lost control of a number of bases in the wake of an operation by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The extremist group is seeking to topple the Somali government and carries out regular attacks on government officials and the AMISOM peacekeeping force.

On Thursday, they killed at least three Somali soldiers in a roadside bombing in the southern port town of Kismayo.

Somalia has been the scene of deadly clashes between military forces and the militants since 2006.


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