It was one of the bloodiest clashes in recent times between the Al-Shabaab terrorist militia and the Somali army. U.S.-trained special forces repelled the attack.

Mogadishu – Fighters of the Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab launched attacks on three military bases in central Somalia. According to Somali security authorities, 48 Islamists were killed in the fighting. A statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Information even reported around 70 attackers killed.

There were no official figures on army casualties. However, Al-Shabaab’s radio station claimed that the group had killed 51 soldiers.

These figures from both sides cannot currently be independently verified.

It was further reported that the attack was repelled with the support of special forces trained by the United States.

Just a few days ago, a similar Al-Shabaab attack on military positions resulted in the deaths of 13 soldiers.

The Islamist militia has been fighting in the Horn of Africa nation for years and has also carried out terrorist attacks in neighboring countries such as Kenya and Uganda. Al-Shabaab controls parts of Somalia but also frequently carries out attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, targeting politicians, journalists, and civil society representatives who advocate for a Western lifestyle.