Seven soldiers killed in al-Shabab attack on military base

Seven soldiers killed in al-Shabab attack on military base

Fighters from the al-Shabab group stormed a military base in central Somalia that the government had recaptured from them last year, killing at least seven soldiers, including

Fighters from the al-Shabab group stormed a military base in central Somalia that the government had recaptured from them last year, killing at least seven soldiers, including

the base commander, an officer said. Assailants from the al-Qaeda affiliate rammed the base in the village of Hawadley with a suicide car bomb on Tuesday and then opened

the base commander, an officer said. Assailants from the al-Qaeda affiliate rammed the base in the village of Hawadley with a suicide car bomb on Tuesday and then opened

fire, Captain Aden Nur, a military officer in a nearby town, told the Reuters news agency. “We repelled al-Shabab [but] lost seven soldiers, including our commander,” Nur

fire, Captain Aden Nur, a military officer in a nearby town, told the Reuters news agency. “We repelled al-Shabab [but] lost seven soldiers, including our commander,” Nur

told Reuters. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had killed “many apostate soldiers and their commander”. The base is located

told Reuters. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had killed “many apostate soldiers and their commander”. The base is located

about 60km (35 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, and was wrested from al-Shabab’s control in October by government forces and allied clan militias. The operation was

about 60km (35 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, and was wrested from al-Shabab’s control in October by government forces and allied clan militias. The operation was

part of a broader government offensive, which began in August and has made significant gains. On Monday, the government announced it had captured Harardhere, an al-Shabab

part of a broader government offensive, which began in August and has made significant gains. On Monday, the government announced it had captured Harardhere, an al-Shabab

stronghold on the Indian Ocean coast that it had held for a decade. As pressure on al-Shabab has grown, its fighters have struck back. They have stepped up gun and bomb

stronghold on the Indian Ocean coast that it had held for a decade. As pressure on al-Shabab has grown, its fighters have struck back. They have stepped up gun and bomb

attacks on the military and civilians, including in areas where they have retreated. The group has been fighting since 2007 to topple Somalia’s central government and

attacks on the military and civilians, including in areas where they have retreated. The group has been fighting since 2007 to topple Somalia’s central government and

impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. In some regions, residents said al-Shabab’s tactics – including torching houses, destroying wells and killing civilians,

impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. In some regions, residents said al-Shabab’s tactics – including torching houses, destroying wells and killing civilians,

combined with demands for taxes during the worst drought in 40 years – has pushed locals to form paramilitary groups to fight alongside the government.

combined with demands for taxes during the worst drought in 40 years – has pushed locals to form paramilitary groups to fight alongside the government.