Somalia: Al-Shabab attack on Afgoye leaves 2 dead

AFGOYE, Somalia - Heavily armed Al Shabaab militants have launched an overnight daring raid against Somali army checkpoint in Afgoye district, killing at least two people, Garowe Online reports.

An Afgoye police commander, Col. Abdi Ibrahim Shamow confirmed to GO that the attack happened after extremists in civilian minibus ambushed troops at the checkpoint west of the town, prompting hours-long gunfight.

The army repelled the raid on Afgoye in Lower Shabelle region, about 30 kilometers northwest of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Two civilians, including a woman, were killed in the assault, while an elderly man was injured, according to the officials. 

"The militants assaulted a main military checkpoint at the entrance of Afgoye and attempted to capture the town by battle, but our forces managed to repulse and push them back,” said Shamow.

Local residents have reported they heard loud explosions and gunshots as Al-Shabaab fighters entered parts in city's western side waving the group’s black flag before being warded off by the SNA soldiers.

Al-Shabaab claimed it had briefly captured the town during a multi-directional attack, inflicting heavy casualties on soldiers, a claim that has been vehemently rejected by Somali military.

Al-Shabaab militants have carried out frequent hit and run attacks against Afgoye and other government-controlled areas in Somalia in its decade-long fight aimed to topple the Western-backed administration in Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE