Islamist al Shabaab rebels kill 10 Somali soldiers

Attack on military base in southern Somalia kills 10 and burns out two military vehicles

Kenyan policemen patrol the Kenya-Somalia border near the town of Mandera on December 4th after al Shabaab militants killed 36 workers at a quarry in  northeast Kenya on December 2nd. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters.
Kenyan policemen patrol the Kenya-Somalia border near the town of Mandera on December 4th after al Shabaab militants killed 36 workers at a quarry in northeast Kenya on December 2nd. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters.

Rebels from the Islamist al Shabaab group attacked a military base in southern Somalia early on Monday, killing at least 10 soldiers and burning two military vehicles, officials said.

African Union and Somali troops launched an offensive this year that has driven al Shabaab out of its last major strongholds.

Monday’s attack highlights the challenge of halting guerrilla-style raids by the al Qaeda-aligned group.

"Al Shabaab attacked our military forces at 3 am" in the Lower Shabelle region, Somali military officer Aden Nur said.

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“They killed 10 soldiers and burnt two military vehicles [equipped] with anti-aircraft guns.”

Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al Shabaab’s military spokesman, said the group was behind the attack and said 14 Somali soldiers had been killed and three vehicles had been burned.

Al Shabaab often cites a higher death toll than the number given by officials.

Reuters