Shabab claims killing 60 Somali troops, taking town

Militants from the al-Shabab Takfiri group claim to have killed more than 60 soldiers during an intense fighting in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.

Military spokesman for the al-Qaeda-linked group Abdiasis Abu Musab said in a statement that its fighters had killed 61 soldiers after overrunning a military base in Af Urur town on Thursday.

"The number could rise since the operation is still underway," the statement read.

Musab said al-Shabab terrorists had also seized weapons and vehicles from the base. Bari region governor Yusuf Mohamed confirmed that a number of soldiers had been killed during the fierce gunbattles across the troubled region.

"Al Shabaab attacked Af Urur town this morning. There were few soldiers there and thus al-Shabab captured the town. It is difficult to know the casualties because the telecommunications were cut off," he said. 

Ahmed Abdiweli, a local security official, said the government forces had repelled the militant raid.

"Shabab militants attacked the Puntland military base near Galgala. The security forces have repelled them but there were some casualties," Abdiweli said, adding the militants also suffered heavy casualties and lost many of their fighters.

Security officials said at least 10 soldiers lost their lives in the violent clashes.  

 "The fighting in Af-Urur was very intense this morning. There are dead bodies and wounded soldiers being brought to the hospital,” Hussein Dirie, an elder, said. 

The developments come as al-Shabab terrorist group has stepped up its deadly bombings in the capital since the new government took office in February.  

SS