Four Killed as Al-Shabaab captures Geriley base in Gedo region after ATMIS withdrawal

Four people were on Thursday killed and others injured in Geriley army base in Gedo region as Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack and recaptured the area from the Somali National Army and Juballand State forces. The victims included three soldiers and one civilian.

Ibrahim Guled, the Governor of Elwak under which Geriley falls, confirmed the incident and stated that the Juballand State forces had withdrawn from the town following defeats in battle.

"There was a heavy battle between Al-Shabaab militants and Juballand State forces. Al-Shabaab launched the attack first while the efforts of the security forces present were inadequate. They managed to enter the base with great pressure and dominance. As a result, four people died, including two Juballand State force officers and a soldiers, and a civilian. We have not yet received information about the number of injuries," said Guled, the Governor of Elwak.

"Gerily is now under the control of Al-Shabaab. The forces have withdrawn from the town after facing defeats, though their exact location is currently unknown," he added.

Al-Shabaab also claimed to have launched the attack and successfully recaptured the town and the forward operation base handed over to the Somali Security Forces by the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF).

Geriley, located 12 kilometers from the Kenyan border, was previously under the control of the Kenya Defense Forces as part of the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The KDF withdrew from the town during the initial phase of ATMIS' drawdown and handed over its forward military base to the Somali National Army two weeks ago.