Somalia: Two soldiers killed in fighting near Baidoa

[Deeq A.]

BAIDOA, Somalia (Caasimada Online) — A fierce gun battle broke out between government forces and Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab fighters near Baidoa town, about 250km southwest of Somali capital Mogadishu.

The clash flared up when heavily armed militants launched an ambush attack on army bases manned by government soldiers in Daynunai area near the town, a policeman Nour Hussein said.

Hussein says two soldiers were killed in an ambush attack carried out by Al-Shabaab fighters near Baidoa town.

He said that military forces repulsed the attack.

Saturday’s attack was claimed by Al-Shabaab.

The group says heavy loses had inflicted upon the soldiers during the attack.

The Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

A 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government fight the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011, however, it still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets.

Somalia has been gripped by violence and lawlessness since the toppling of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in the early 1990s.

Caasimada Online

Mogadishu News Desk

Caasimada@live.com