06 September, 2017
Mukhtar Abdi Mohamed, a colonel from the Jubaland state, told local media that at least four soldiers and seven al-Shabaab militants were killed and more than 10 people from both sides were wounded when the insurgents attacked an army base in the town of Bulo-gadud near Somalia's port city of Kismayo.
"Terrorists attacked our base in Buulo Guduud with suicide vehicle bomb attacks, then fighting erupted causing casualties on both sides".
Somalia government officials said that a military base at Buulo Gaduud came under attack on Sunday, but repulsed the attack and killed 20 attackers.
Al shabaab militants detonated two suicide vehicle bombs that have been described as "massive", apparently one after the other as gunmen stormed the camp in Bulogadud, 30Km north of Kismayo city.
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity has added that Jubbaland troops backed by Kenyan military forces (KDF) and US soldiers recaptured the base hours after militants' withdrawal.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and said 26 Somali soldiers had been killed in the incident, but that could not be confirmed by other sources.
The strike took place on Thursday, the US Africa Command said.
The AU and Somali forces have also increased airstrikes in southern Somalia in the recent past, resulting in the killing of several militants and some defections.
