Hiiraan Online
Saturday, June 20, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)----Fighters from the Al-Qaeda linked group in Somalia attacked government-held town outside the capital on Saturday and briefly seize army checkpoints, governor said.
The attack by the Al-Shabab on Afgoye, an agricultural town that lies 30km north of Mogadishu targetted police checkpoints, with militants seized five police cars before soldiers recaptured one of the vehicles in a counter attack.
Abdiqadir Mohmed Nor, the governor of Lower Shabelle region in which the town locates told reporters that the fighters have launched the attack under cover of darkness, forcing soldiers to withdraw into nearby army stations.
He declined to give details about casualities, however, independent sources told HOL that at least 10 government soldiers were killed during the attack.
Mr. Sidi has claimed government troops have killed 30 militants during a counter attack that saw troops recaptured one of the lost vehicles.
Residents reported hearing gunfire and explosions during the attack as militants stormed and took control of several significant government checkpoints in the town.
Al-Shabab has vowed more attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Somali government has deployed hundreds of newly trained soldiers to stave off potential attack by the group in response to the threats.
Somalia’s capital has seen a period of stability since Somalia’s security agencies beefed up security across the city which has seen series of deadly attack by Al-Shabab which is fighting the government
and the African Union forces bolstering it.