Lower Shabelle administration: Al-Shabab suffered heavy casualties after it attempted to ambush SNA convoy

Suspected Al-Shabaab fighters have yesterday ambushed SNA military convoy from Balidoogle locality, prompting hours of fighting, officials say.

The spokesman for Lower Shabelle region administration, Mohamed Shiino speaking to Goobjoog News said that Al-Shabab fighters have attacked the convoy from different directions but the soldiers managed to repulse them, killing number of attackers in the process.

“SNA convoy was ambushed by Al-Shabab fighters, luckily they suffered no casualties but SNA killed several fighters” he said.

Al-Shabab fighters did comment on the attack but Al-Shabab has carried out several deadly attacks on Government institutions, army camps and hotels, latest being on Sunday when the group’s fighters attacked Hotel Sahafi which was housing tens of senior government officials, businessmen and clerics.

A bomber rammed his vehicle rigged with explosives into the gate of Sahafi Hotel and the assailants made their way into the building after engaging in an intense exchange of gunfire with the security of the hotel.

Several government official had been killed in that attack.

AMISOM and Somali National Army have been advancing to Al-Shabab controlled areas latest being Bardhere town that used to be the largest stronghold for Al-Shabab’s top officials and its foreign jihadist fighters before they fled after heavy military assault by the Somali government forces and the African Union mission in Somalia [AMISOM].