Al-Shabaab Launches Pre-dawn Assault On Army Base, Claims Many Soldiers Killed

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Al-Shabab militants launched a pre-dawn assault on a Somali military base in Hawadley, Middle Shabelle region, early Friday, beginning with a suicide car bomb attack followed by heavy fighting.

The Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed to have killed 21 soldiers, among them several officers, in the attack, although these claims couldn't be independently verified due to disrupted communications in the area.

Al-Shabab also stated they captured soldiers and took military equipment. Somali government officials have not yet commented on the specifics of the attack or confirmed any casualties.

The major attack is part of an ongoing series of violent actions by Al-Shabaab against government forces, highlighting the persistent security issues in the region. Hawadley previously saw a similar attack in January 2023, resulting in the death of Colonel Abshir Mohamud Mohamed Shataqey and other soldiers.

The silence from Somali officials and the communication blackout continue to obscure a clear picture of the situation on the ground in Hawadley, approximately 60 kilometers north of Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

GAROWE ONLINE