Mogadishu, (Dawan Africa) – The Somali Ministry of Defence has reported that national and African Union forces repelled an Al-Shabaab attack targeting army positions in the Sabiib and Canoole areas of the Lower Shabelle region on Friday morning.
According to the statement, the attack began around 6:20 AM and was met with a swift response from the Somali National Army (SNA) and troops from the Ugandan contingent under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The Ministry said 18 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed, while four Somali soldiers died and seven were injured.
“The national armed forces were on high alert and fully prepared. They responded swiftly and effectively to the assault,” the statement said, adding that air support from international partners “inflicted heavy damage” on the militants.
Al-Shabaab, through its affiliated media, claimed that it stormed the base and inflicted significant casualties, but those claims have not been independently verified. Access to the area remains restricted, and conflicting reports continue to emerge.
The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in southern Somalia, where government and AU forces are engaged in operations aimed at weakening the militant group’s hold over rural areas.
