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Al-Shabaab attacks military base in Somalia UPDATE: 20-60 Shaboobs toes up
[Garowe] al-Shabaab
...... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
 snuffies raided yet again an army base in southern Somalia on Sunday morning, sources confirmed, amid an ongoing crackdown against the group, which is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed administration under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

According to reports, the snuffies used bombs to attack Awadheegle before sunrise, followed by sporadic gunfire in the pre-dawn attack. The government of Somalia is yet to confirm the devastating attack whose casualties also remain scanty according to reports from the ground.

"Today was the worst day for this town", a resident told Garowe Online by phone. The key agricultural town lies 84 km west of the Somalia capital, Mogadishu. The snuffies have been targeting military bases in the country, with most soldiers reporting to various frontlines for the operations.

On Friday, the army repelled an attack at Berdaale town according to the Ministry of Defence which has been monitoring operations across the country. The town is found in the Bay region, one of the hotspots in the war against the snuffies and where much focus will be put on the second phase of operations against the group.

"Last night, our National Army, supported by local residents, successfully repelled a Khawarij militia attack on Berdale district, Bay region," the Ministry posted. "The operation resulted in the elimination of the group's leader along with other holy warriors."

Al-Shabaab on their side confirmed attacking the town and claimed forcing govt troops to "flee" their base. The group is, however, known for using propaganda as a tool to articulate its agenda including but not limited to exaggerating the number of casualties.



Update from Goobjoog News at 12:40 p.m. EDT:
According to official government reports, hundreds of militants attacked government forces at Awdhegle town on the bank of the Shabelle River.

The government forces engaged the militants in a fierce fight and managed to repulse them, killing at least 60 militants and capturing an assortment of military equipment which was abandoned by the fleeing militants.

The governor of the region, Mohamed Ibrahim Barre, said that the militants used explosives in attacking the base.

“They attacked the town from two directions – the north and west,” he said.

“The fighting lasted for almost two hours.”

Awdhegle is a strategic town where government forces protect a key bridge that officials say is key to preventing the smuggling of al-Shabab vehicles carrying explosives into the capital, Mogadishu.
More from Garowe at 1:20 p.m. EDT:
Somali National Army's elite force, Gorgor, killed more than 20 al-Shabab militants and wounded others early Sunday in heavy fighting between the army and militants at a military base in Awdheegle district in southern Somalia, officials said.

Al-Shabab militants claimed responsibility for the latest attack, saying its fighters killed 59 soldiers including commanders, and ran over the base. The al-Qaida allied terror group normally inflates casualty figures during their battle with the government's security forces.
Posted by: trailing wife 2023-09-11
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=678263