Al-Shabaab militants target US-trained Danab forces in Somalia

Al-Shabaab’s recruits at a passing-out parade in Afgoye last year (Reuters)

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants on Friday targeted members of the Somali National Army [SNA] in central Somalia, in an attack that comes amid ongoing political instability in the Horn of Africa nation.

Officials said at least two members of SNA's Danab brigade were killed and nine others wounded after a bomb blast targeted a military convoy in Dhusumareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug state.

A top military general told reporters that the military convoy was hit by a landmine while traveling between the town of Guriel and Dhusamareb. The two towns have been a center of focus for Al-Shabaab on the last several occasions.

"The military convoy belonged to Danab commandos, and we understand the attack was an improvised explosive device [IED] planted near the road, killing soldiers," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Mohamed Deeq Abdi, a local journalist, told Anadolu Agency that nine wounded soldiers were admitted to a hospital in Dhusamareb. Of the wounded soldiers, reports indicate, four sustained serious injuries.

In their proxy media outlets, the Al-Qaida linked group, Al-Shabaab, claimed the attack leftover 15 soldiers dead. However, the reports could not be independently verified by Garowe Online.

Elsewhere, on Friday, Galmudug regional soldiers repulsed an al-Shabaab attack on the town of Bahdo in the same region. Somali national TV reported that 17 terrorists were killed in the retaliatory attack, citing military commanders as saying.

Further, the Somali National Army on Friday also announced killing at least five Al-Shabaab militants in the Middle Shabelle region. The operation was executed by the Special Forces from Danab unit, who are trained by the US Africa Command.

"Gambole is one of al-Shabaab's strongholds in the Middle Shabelle region. A heavy gunfight erupted during the operation, but our commandos killed many al-Shabaab terrorists, including five senior commanders," a military official said.

Col. Ahmed Abdullahi Nur, commander of the 16th Danab Commandos, also confirmed the operation and the killing of al-Shabaab operatives.

Nur said operations against the terrorist group, which has been fighting against the Somali government and African Union Mission to Somalia [AMISOM] forces since 2007, will continue until all territories in the Middle Shabelle region are back under government control.

GAROWE ONLINE