Islamist al Shabaab ambushes Somali military trainees, says kills 30 | Reuters

MOGADISHU Somali Islamists al Shabaab said they had ambushed a group of military trainees on Monday southwest of the capital Mogadishu and killed 30 of them, though the claim could not be independently confirmed. A Somali military officer confirmed the ambush but said fighting was still going on and that no death toll was immediately available

hidden November 03, 2015 00:01:47 IST
Islamist al Shabaab ambushes Somali military trainees, says kills 30
| Reuters

Islamist al Shabaab ambushes Somali military trainees says kills 30
 Reuters

MOGADISHU Somali Islamists al Shabaab said they had ambushed a group of military trainees on Monday southwest of the capital Mogadishu and killed 30 of them, though the claim could not be independently confirmed.

A Somali military officer confirmed the ambush but said fighting was still going on and that no death toll was immediately available.

The ambush came a day after at least 13 people were killed after al Shabaab militants stormed a hotel in Mogadishu where government officials and lawmakers stay.

The militants, which aim to topple the Western-backed Somali government, and local authorities often cite different numbers of casualties after such attacks.

The government is battling to rebuild the Horn of Africa nation after more than two decades of conflict. Al Shabaab ruled large parts of Somalia until 2011, when it was driven out of Mogadishu by African and Somali troops.

"We understand al Shabaab ambushed the Somali military commando trainees and captured two military pickup trucks," Ahmed Ibrahim, the military officer, told Reuters.

"It is too early to know what the casualties are because fighting is still going on in the jungle," he said.

Al Shabaab’s military spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, said his group had killed 30 commando trainees and seized four military trucks.

"We are pursuing the rest who fled," he said.

(Writing by Edith Honan; Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Updated Date:

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

also read

As UK begins vaccinations, Britons get a glimpse of life after COVID-19
World

As UK begins vaccinations, Britons get a glimpse of life after COVID-19

Britain preordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. But health officials expect only four million to arrive by the end of the year

India invites UK's Boris Johnson to be chief guest at 2021 Republic Day: Reports
India

India invites UK's Boris Johnson to be chief guest at 2021 Republic Day: Reports

If Johnson accepts the invite, he would become the first British prime minister to grace the parade at Rajpath in nearly three decades

Pfizer-BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine bodes well for UK, but offers little relief to poorer countries
World

Pfizer-BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine bodes well for UK, but offers little relief to poorer countries

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be transported at South Pole-like temperatures, a requirement that is already dictating who will be vaccinated in the UK