Somalia: Al-Shabaab kills 5 in attack on military base

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least five Somali soldiers were killed Sunday night in an al- Shabaab attack on a military base, local and administrative sources said.

The head of the southern Lower Shebelle region said Monday that elements of al-Shabaab attacked the main military base in the region, killing five soldiers and stealing two vehicles.

According to eyewitnesses, the attack began with a suicide car bomb explosion, followed by an exchange of gunfire between the attackers and the army. It lasted for about an hour-and-a-half.

In unconfirmed allegations, al-Shabaab claimed that it had taken control of the base, killing 30 soldiers and taking seven military vehicles, including tanks, as well as large quantities of weapons and ammunition, according to the website SomaliMemo, known for being close to the terrorist group.

The group said in a statement that the operation had achieved its goal.

Separately, the Somali government announced on Sunday that it had destroyed a major al-Shabaab arms cache during a military operation in the town of Goobaanle, Southern Somalia.

“The military operation was launched on Saturday by special forces on Saturday against a stronghold of al-Shabaab in Goobaanle, about 130 km [81 miles] from Mogadishu, where terrorist gather to plan their attacks,” the statement said.