Drone hits Alshabaab base in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle

[Deeq A.]

Suspected drone targeted Alshabaab base in Lower Shabelle region,  killing several militants,  authorities and residents said on Wednesday.

The local residents of  Yaqbariweyne village confirmed the bombardment on Tuesday night saying the explosion caused by the missiles fired at the outpost could be heard all over the village.

“We heard big crashes  at Idow-Jalaad locality where Alshabaab has a training camp, the area is just few killometers from here,”  said Mustaf Raghe in Yaqbariweyne village.

Authorities in the region say aerial strike appeared to be a drone attack which targeted the training camp in the area.

Yaqbariweyne chief, Olow Mohamed said a drone targeted a camp in Idow-Jalaad where Alshabaab had been amassing its fighters in recent days.

“A drone hit the base, though we don’t know the exact casualties but several people killed there,” Islow said.

It not yet known who was behind the aerial strike but the United States has in the past targeted al Shabaab fighters.

US has been carrying out aerial bombardment on Alshabaab bases in Somalia since the beginning of this month.

The president of United States, Donald Trump earlier this year approved  expanded military operations against Alshabaab militants including airstrikes.

Alshabaab, Al-Qaida Affiliate has not yet commented the aerial strike.

The militant group which wants to impose its own radical brand of Islam on the Horn of Africa country has been carrying out deadly attack on Somali capital Mogadishu since the group was pushed out the city by Somali forces backed by continental troops known as AMISOM.