MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Fighters of the Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab attacked bases housing members of the army and allied clan militias in central Somalia’s Galgadud region on Sunday.
In a statement, the group claimed killing 61 soldiers and seizing 6 military vehicles. It also said its fighters had overrun bases in Burjed village near the town of Guriel.
There has been no independent confirmation of the claim due to the remote nature of the area and details about the attack were scarce. Somali state media reported that troops were able to repel the assault.
It comes more than a month after an attack by the Islamist group on military bases in the region stalled the advance of allied Somali government troops and Mawisley militias in the central region. A number of strategic towns have since been vacated by the army in a significant reversal of gains made after a year-long offensive.
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