MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Fighters of the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab on Monday launched simultaneous dawn raids on military bases housing Jubaland paramilitary forces and US-trained Danab special elite units in three villages along the road linking the port city of Kismayo and Afmadow town.
The assault, the latest in a string of insurgent counter-offensive operations to reclaim territory lost in a recent offensive by Somali troops, triggered gun battles that raged for hours.
Somali government and Jubaland regional authorities claimed that troops had repulsed the attacks. A video shared on social media by accounts affiliated with the regional state purported to show dead bodies of insurgents and weapons seized in the battle.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab-affiliated social media accounts reported that militants had overrun bases in the villages of Harbole, Mido and Bulo Haji – all on the road linking the coastal city of Kismayo and Afmadow.
Although both sides claimed victory, there has been no independent confirmation of their assertions.
Thousands of US-trained special forces and regional troops were deployed to seize the three villages just a few weeks ago in an effort to lift more than a decade-long siege imposed by insurgents on the town of Afmadow.
In an attempt to gain the confidence and trust of locals, Jubaland authorities promised that they would never again vacate the recently recovered villages, given that troops had previously retreated from the strategic areas after seizing their control from militants.
The assault comes just a few days after the insurgent group released images showing military vehicles and weapons it had seized in an ambush on Somali government troops and Jubaland regional forces near the town of Bulo Haji.
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