12th June, 2018
No fewer than four Somali soldiers were killed in an attack by al-Shabab in a military base in Teed village, officials said on Monday.
The official said that the incident occurred about 30 kilometres northwest of Hudur town in Bakol region in southern Somalia.
Mohamed Ahmed, Mayor of Hudur town, said that al-Shabab fighters had launched a heavy attack on the base but that the forces managed to push them back.
“They (al-Shabab) have attacked us, but our forces fought back and repulsed them. We are now in control of the base,’’ Moalim said.
The local official noted that they inflicted casualties on the al-Shabab side, but did not know the number of their losses.
Residents in nearby villages said that they heard huge exchange of gunfire in the area.
“The two sides have exchanged huge gunfire and engaged a gun battle which lasted for hours,’’ Yusuf Eney, a resident told newsmen.
The militant group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had seized the village of Teed, a claim which officials have denied.
Independent sources said the militants briefly took control of the military base before they were overpowered by the soldiers.