Somalia: Al Shabaab claims repulses attack by ‘foreign troops’

AW DEEGLE, Somalia-A spokesman for Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group claimed that they repelled a planned raid by foreign troops in Lower Shabelle regional district of Aw Deegle, Garowe Online reports.

Residents say, unidentified soldiers equipped with two attack helicopters engaged in a 30 minute-long midnight gun battle with Al Shabaab militants in Aw Deegle overnight.

Helicopters reportedly landed on a pitch outside Aw Deegle, with foreign troops on foot facing towards militant positions.

Aw Deegle district commissioner, Mohamed Aweys Mad Yarow, confirmed the exchange of gunfire, boasting 11 Al Shabaab fighters were killed in the assault.

“They were foreign troops. They landed in attack helicopters at midnight on vicinity, 7km away from Aw Deegle,” Mad Yarow said.

Al Shabaab military operations spokesperson, Abdiasis Abu Musab, however admitted to a death inflicted on militants during the mysterious operation.

The attack comes a day after the Pentagon disclosed that 150 militants were killed in U.S. drone strike on Raso training camp, 120 miles north of Mogadishu.

GAROWEONLINE