Al Shabaab attack a Somalia army base allegedly killing many and looting equipment
“Hundreds of Shabab fighters have stormed the base and there was very heavy fighting. The militants looted the army depots and set fire to the camp,” said Ali Muktar, a resident of a nearby village to the AFP
Somalia Military official Abdulahi Ibrahim confirmed the attack but did not give the number of causalities
The Islamic insurgents are said to have stormed Laanta-Buro military base about 40 kilometres south west of Mogadishu after midnight.
The militia has claimed to have killed at least 73 government soldiers and captured vehicles, weapons, ammunition and equipment including seven “technical”, the machine gun mounted on battle wagons that are popular in Somalia.
The Somali government has disputed the allegations and claimed to have fought off the assault by the militia.
“The violent elements attacked Laanta-Buro military base and the army repelled them, their dead bodies are strewn around here and the army is chasing them,” said Ahmed Absuge Abdulle, a senior military commander.
The Al Shabaab has attacked isolated military bases since last year, attacking camps manned by Uganda, Burundi and Kenya troops deployed as part of the African Union Peace-enforcement Mission (AMISOM).
