Monday, September 11, 2023
On Sunday, the elite force of the Somali National Army, known as Gorgor, engaged in a fierce battle with al-Shabab militants at a military base in the Awdheegle district of southern Somalia. Officials have reported that more than 20 militants were killed, and several others were injured in the confrontation.
In a statement to the national news agency, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-adala, the deputy minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, commended the brave and swift response of the troops, which resulted in the prevention of the al-Shabab attack on the army base. Al-adala stated, “Our SNA forces promptly took action against the attempted terrorist attack by al-Shabab in the Awdheegle district of the Lower Shabelle region on Sunday morning. The terrorists left behind more than 20 deceased individuals at the scene, and our forces also seized weapons during the operation.”
However, Al-adala did not provide any confirmation regarding casualties on the SNA side during the intense combat.
The responsibility for the recent attack has been claimed by al-Shabab militants, who asserted that their fighters killed 59 soldiers, including commanders, and successfully overran the base.
It is worth noting that the al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist group often exaggerates casualty figures in their encounters with government security forces. Despite intensified operations by the security forces, supported by allied forces, the attacks continue to persist throughout Somalia.
