Al Shabaab Attack Killed 20 Soldiers in Somalia

The militant Al Shabaab killed 20 soldiers in a attack on the military air base at Af Urura, in Puntland, Somalia, Thursday (8/6).

Credit : Reuters

"It was a fierce battle. We lost 20 soldiers and 14 military cars was burned. We have already taken over the city," said Mayor Mohamed Abdi, a military officer of Puntland, to Reuters.

The attack took place a few days after Puntland sentenced five members of Al Shabaab a dead penalty while driving a vehicle with explosives to Bosasso, Puntland's capital, 26 April.

The militants are linked to Al-Qaidah as they claimed to kill 61 army after occupying the military base, in contrast to the number which was revealed by the army.

"They did not recapture the city. We simply left the battle peacefully after killing 61 soldiers and seized 16 military car," said Abdiasis Abu Musab, spokesman for Al Shabaab military operations.

Al Shabaab routinely attacks Somalia, focuses in Mogadishu, the capital of the country, and other parts of the federal government. They want to expel the peacekeepers from Africa, take down the Western-backed government, and rule the country with strict Islamic law.

It is unusual to have Puntland under attack, where security forces relatively get routine payment and received substantial assistance from the United States.

This area is also home to the fractional group of Al Shabaab who swear allegiance to ISIS. A number of sources of security apparatus said a small contingent of foreign militants is available in the area.

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