Dozens of Somali soldiers killed, others captured in a daring Al-Shabaab attack

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Dozens of Somali soldiers killed, others captured in a daring Al-Shabaab attack

GALKACYO (HORN OBSERVER) – As further details continue to emerge, a harrowing account of the Al-Shabaab attack unfolds, which commenced with the jolting impact of suicide car explosions, subsequently followed by a swarm of armed militants desce

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Al-Shabaab raids military base in central Somalia on Saturday.

GALKACYO (HORN OBSERVER) – As further details continue to emerge, a harrowing account of the Al-Shabaab attack unfolds, which commenced with the jolting impact of suicide car explosions, subsequently followed by a swarm of armed militants descending upon the base of Somali government forces located in the Cows Weyn village of the Galgaduud region in central Somalia.

The Saturday’s attack came a day after Somali forces and the allied clan militia entered Ceelbuur town on Friday following Al-Shabaab’s withdrawal.

In a revelatory statement by Ali Abdi Wardheere (Ali Yare), the former Deputy Governor of Security for the Banadir region, the dire scope of the tragedy comes into focus.

He estimates that the toll of the attack has left a staggering 130 to 150 soldiers fatally wounded, a devastating count that includes the lives of 43 officers.

The precise number of soldiers injured in the attack remains elusive at this time, he reported.

"Al-Shabaab took approximately 22 soldiers captive during the onslaught. In addition, the extremist group successfully commandeered 23 military battle wagons, further deepening the blow to the Somali government forces,” he added.

The early morning assault persisted until 09:45 AM.

Military sources said the newly arrived forces fought valiantly without receiving the essential support of ground troops or air cover.

"Today’s catastrophic loss exceeds that which we experienced in the Galcad incident on January 20, 2023,” he somberly continued.

Claims by Al-Shabaab

In a press release, the extremist group Al-Shabaab asserts that it managed to eliminate 178 soldiers during the attack.

The group details their audacious claim of overrunning three military bases, each housing a contingent of 1,500 soldiers, effectively securing total control over the premises.

Al-Shabaab disseminated images depicting the relentless assault on the Cows Weyne base.

As of now, the Somali military command and the Ministry of Defence have yet to issue any official statements in response to the incident.

Given the gravity of the situation, critics of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s regime have voiced suspicions of potential traitors involvement in the attack, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this alarming attack.