Somalia: Al Shabaab Militants Attack Army Base

Suspected Al Shabaab militants launched attack on Somali Government and Djibouti forces base in the outskirts of Hiraan regional capital of Beledweyne of central Somalia overnight on Friday, Garowe Online reports.


Beledweyne residents tell GO that heavy gunfire could be heard in Beledweyne neighborhoods. No casualty figures have so far been disclosed to the media but Somali army commanders said they have repelled militant attack on their base.

Gun battle triggered when the clock ticked towards 12:00 PM in the night after militants targeted the base with pre-planned assault, sources noted.

Security forces commenced search operation in Beledweyne town in pursuit of assailants on Saturday morning.

Al Shabaab honed guerrilla warfare after series of defeats on the frontline in central and southern Somalia.