Somalia: Al Shabab attacks military base in Qoryoley of Lower Shabelle

Al Shabab terrorists launched an attack on a military base in Qoryoley town of Lower Shabelle region on Wednesday, according to local media reports. The attack which reportedly occured in the early morning was successfully repulsed by the Somali forces.

The attack prompted hours of heavy fighting between the Somali army and heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters.

The local media reported that Ali Mohamed Aden, the police commander in the town confirmed that at least one civilian was killed and a soldier wounded in the raid. Aden said the government troops killed four Al-Shabab fighters during the gunfight, adding that the attack was repulsed successfully.

Qoryoley, which is an agricultural rich district located 120 Km southwest of Mogadishu, the Somali capital was recaptured by Somali and African Union (AU) troops just 5 years ago following an offensive.

The Somali National Army has been conducting large-scale operations against Al-Shabaab and seized strategic towns in the Lower Shabelle region.

Al-Shabaab in the southern part of Somalia routinely targets AU forces and government bases.