SNA eliminates 21 Al-Shabaab fighters in Hawadley

REUTERS|MOGADISHU: The Somali National Armed Forces gallantly repulsed an Al-Shabaab attack on an army base in Hawadley village in Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday morning, killing several members of the group, SNA Chief Ge. Odawa Rage Yusuf has confirmed to State Media.

According to Odawa, 21 terrorists were neutralized by the government troops, and unfortunately five soldiers, including Col Abshir Shataqey, were martyred in the attack.

The al-Qaeda-linked terror group attacked the camp using a suicide car bomb, followed by fire, said Odawa. The camp, located about 60 kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu, was wrested from the group’s crippling grip in October last year by government forces and allied clan militias.

The group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had killed “many apostate soldiers and their commander.”

The National Army, however, lived up to its mark after it captured, a few hours later, El-Dheer district in Galgadud region with the help of the local forces.

Defense Minister Abdulkdir Mohamed Nur also confirmed this afternoon to Sonna that the National Army has also taken control of the city of “Ail Teir” in Galgadud region from the militant group, marking another win for the Somali people.