Somalia: Three soldiers killed in roadside bomb near Baidoa town

BAIDOA, Somalia- The militant group Al-Shabaab claimed the deadly attack with improvised explosive device on a military pick-up truck, 25 km east of Baidoa, the interim capital town of Southwest state, Garowe Online reports.

Three soldiers were killed after a roadside bomb planted by militants hit a convoy of Southwest state army on Sunday morning at Bundo Madow area, located in the outskirts of Baidoa, according to local residents.

The convoy was transporting soldiers from Baidoa, and en route to their base in Deynunay town when it was struck by a landmine explosion. The state officials were not immediately available for comment.

This was the latest in series of IED bombings, as the regional forces backed by AU, and national army (SNA) are making gains in the battle, to push out al-Shabaab from its remaining rural strongholds.

The al-Qaida-linked militants have once controlled many parts of Somalia, however, in 2011 it was driven out of the capital Mogadishu and has since lost most other areas in south and central regions.

Despite losing ground, the fighters remain a formidable threat and constantly carry out bombings against both military and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the horn of Africa country.

GAROWEONLINE