Al-Shabab Attack on Military Base in Somalia Leaves Seven Dead

At least seven soldiers were killed in a surprise dawn attack on a military base in Somalia, launched by al-Shabab militants.

MOSCOW, January 2 (Sputnik) – At least seven soldiers were killed in an al-Shabab attack on a military base, located in the Somali town of Baidoa, Reuters reports, citing military officials.

"Al Shabaab attacked our base unexpectedly early in the morning today. We lost seven soldiers," Captain Ahmed Idow, a Somali military officer, told the news agency.

"We fiercely attacked the military base near Baidoa," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab’s military operation spokesman, told Reuters, adding that more than 10 Somali soldiers were killed.

Three militants were reportedly killed during the attack.

The incident comes days after al-Shabab intelligence chief, Tahlil Abdishakur, was killed in a US drone attack in the area of Saakow, about 320km (200 miles) west of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, according to BBC.

Since 2011, Somali government, assisted by the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) has stepped up efforts to destroy al-Shabab. However, parts of Somalia are still under control of the militants.