BOSASO, Somalia – Heavily armed Al Shabab fighters have overrun military base near Bosaso town in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland.
The fighters stormed into military base in Balikhadar town, Galgala highlands, clashing with Puntland forces for hours, according to police officer, who asked to be anonymous.
He says at least soldiers were killed and several vehicles were also destroyed in an attack by Al Shabaab.
“Our brave military soldiers came under attack at military base near Bosaso town. Five soldiers lost their lives during the raid. But the soldiers repulsed the attack”, he said.
In phone interview, Colonel Hussein Mohamed, Puntland military officer said that its forces had launched a counter-attack earlier on Saturday morning killing dozens.
The armed group of Al Shabaab claimed to have overrun military base for Puntland administration near Bosaso town
Our Mujahidin fighters stormed the military base following surprise assault. We took away weapons and military vehicles at the base”, the group’s Shahada Agency reported.
The Agency reported that at least 7 Puntland soldiers had been killed in during the ambush attack.
The group has, however, carried out last year similar attack on Puntland military base in Af-Urur town, leaving nearly 100 soldiers dead.
With Reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia
