Somalia: Deadly assault hits army bases in Mogadishu

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online)– The Islamist group Al-Shabaab says it carried out an attack on army bases in north of Somali capital Mogadishu.

The group’s fighters armed with machine-guns and RPGs launched an ambush assault on army bases manned by government soldiers in the city’s Hiliwaa.

Heavy fighting triggered by the surprise attack flared up last night, a witness, who asked to be unnamed for reprisal attack on his life, said.

He says heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard through Hiliwaa district.

The group claimed to have overrunn two army bases in Ali Ganei and Biyo areas, saying, its fighters killed several government soldiers during the assault.

The group’s fighters also fired several mortar rockets at the army bases, causing untold number of casualties.

Caasimada Online could not independently verify the latest claims made by Al-Shabaab.

Somali army officials were unavailable to reach on the phone for comments on the latest attack in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab has been in decline since 2011 but still launches regular, deadly attacks against government, military and civilian targets in the capital and elsewhere.

The group is battling the Western-backed Somali government to establish Islamic rule in the country.

The Somali forces fighting the group have been backed by an African Union mission made up of forces from several African nations.

Caasimada Online
Mogadishu News Desk
Caasimada@live.com