Al-Shabaab terror group attacks Ethiopian troops, airport in Somalia

Al-Qaeda-linked armed group al-Shabab controls large parts of south and central Somalia [File: Al Jazeera]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group attacked a military base and an airport in the country's South West State in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least one soldier and a civilian and injuring several others, a police official confirmed.

The al-Shabaab terrorist group used heavy weaponry in the attack on the airport and Ethiopian military base in Baidoa city, where the forces were operating under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), according to Abdi Ali Mohamud, a police officer in the city.

"A military base in Suuqa Hoolaha neighborhood in the city was also attacked by the terrorists and one soldier was killed and another wounded," he said.

"We don't know the exact number of people killed or injured in the airport attack," he said, adding that "we know a civilian was killed and several others were injured."

A resident in the area, Haawo Ahmed Suleyman, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the Somali National Army and al-Shabaab terrorists were engaged in a fierce firefight.

When Anadolu Agency contacted AMISOM officials, they refused to comment on the airport mortar attack.

Baidoa is a major city in South West State, located 243 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.

This has been the second attack since Baidoa's parliamentary elections began earlier this week.