Somalia: Roadside bomb targets Puntland forces near Bosaso

BOSASO, Puntland – A roadside bomb has ripped through an army convoy in Somalia's northeastern semi-autonomous Puntland region, Al Shabaab said on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

Security officials within Puntland forces, who requested anonymity, told GO that there were no any casualties on the soldiers were and any dagame on their pick-truck from Bosaso port town as result of the improvised explosive device [IED] explosion.

The troops were heading to the mountains of Galgala in Bari region, about 40km southwest of Bosaso at the time of the attack, they said.

The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for today’s attack through statement broadcasted by its mouthpiece Radio Andalus, saying it killed all soldiers on board the vehicle.

Puntland authorities are yet to comment on the incident which happened on the outskirts of the region's port city of Bosaso. On Monday, two customs officials were shot dead by Al Shabab gunmen in the city.

The armed militant group has been actively operating in Galgala hills of Puntland since 2010 and has carried out numerous bombings, gun attacks, and assassinations against the state forces in the 7 years.

Al Shabaab also wants to drive out of Africa Union peacekeeping force [AMISOM] that helps defend the country's UN-backed weak Federal government in Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE