Intense fighting erupted at the southern edge of Somalia as Al Shabaab militants attempted to seize three military bases on Monday, resulting in numerous deaths of fighters, according to officials and the insurgent group.
A local security source reported that government troops successfully defended the bases and neutralised four car bombs approximately 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Kismayo, a port city in Jubbaland state.
Videos shared by Jubbaland officials on social media revealed at least 35 bodies dressed in military attire near Buulo-Xaaji village.
In a statement released by the state-run Somalia National News Agency (SONNA) said,“We thank the federal and Jubbaland forces who killed over 80 al Shabaab fighters and took their weapons.”
Discrepancies between the government’s and al Shabaab’s casualty reports are common. Farah Hussein, a military official, reported that five soldiers lost their lives.
“We got the information that al Shabaab was coming, we deserted the three bases and then encircled their fighters, killing dozens of them. I counted 30 dead al Shabaab, and I could see even more bodies lying ahead of me,” Hussein said.
Conversely, al Shabaab claimed on its affiliated radio station that it had successfully overrun the bases and killed several soldiers. The region, located near the Kenyan border and traditionally known as al Shabaab’s stronghold, was taken by government forces three months prior.
Al Shabaab, linked to al Qaeda, has been striving to enforce a rigid form of Islamic law across Somalia since 2007.
Mbamalu Nancy
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