Mogadishu (ANN)- Al-Shabab fighters have battled Somali troops and allied forces for control of a strategic army base in southern Somalia, according to the government and a military official.
Capturing the base in Wargaadhi town in the Middle Shabelle region, which houses soldiers, special forces and clan fighters, would enable the al Qaeda-linked group to sever a crucial road between the capital, Mogadishu, 200km (124 miles) to the southwest, and the central Galmudug State as it tries to extend recent gains made in the region.
According to report Reuters Al-shabab has been fighting the Somali government for more than 16 years and frequently targets government officials and military personnel. It said in a statement that its fighters had captured the base and Wargaadhi town – a claim the government denied.
The Ministry of Information said in a statement that government forces had killed more than 40 people after they tried to attack the base on Thursday morning.
However, army officer Hussein Ali told the news agency Reuters that the armed group had taken the town of Wargaadhi after “fierce fighting
*Our forces lost 12 men, mostly [clan fighters]. Around 20 al-Shabab fighters were also killed,” Ali said. “But finally al-Shabab got more reinforcements and managed to capture the town.”
He added that Somalia’s military was struggling to send reinforcements because it would need to use routes passing through al-Shabab-held areas.
Related: Al-Shabaab targets Somali president
Two soldiers quoted by Reuters said government forces, backed by air strikes, had managed to recapture part of the town by midmorning.
It was not possible to independently verify the claims made by either side.
Al-Shabaab Last week captured the strategic military base Aadan Yabaal, which is defended in Mogadishu as the capital of Somalia
Written by Arraale M. Jama, a freelance journalist and human rights activist.
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