n pre-dawn raid, al-Shabaab forces attack national army base in Barawa, strategic southern port city
By Mohammed Dhaysane
MOGADISHU, Somalia
At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in fierce fighting between Somali government forces and al-Shabaab militants early Thursday morning, police and military officials said.
Mohamed Ali, a police captain in the town of Barawa in Somalia’s southern Lower Shabelle region, told Anadolu agency over the phone that the fighting began after al-Shabaab fighters attacked a Somali national army base in Barawa, killing at least 10 people, including government forces, al-Shabaab fighters, and civilians.
“Fighters belonging to al-Shabaab have attacked the Somali army base near the coastal town of Barawa …. The fighting began around 4.30 am local time [0130GMT],” Ali said.
Col. Abdirahman Roble, the military commander in Barawa, also told Anadolu Agency on the phone that the Somali army killed over five al-Shabaab fighters during the fighting, and three civilians were also killed.
Barawa or Barawe is a strategic ancient port city, located some 179 kilometers (111.4 miles) southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Barawa was under al-Shabaab control for six years, but Somali government forces backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces took control from al-Shabaab in 2014.
The Somali government has been battling the al-Qaeda-linked militant group since 2004.
On Tuesday seven people were killed in a suicide attack in Mogadishu hours after Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire announced his Cabinet.