MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali National Army (SNA) forces killed 100 al-Shabab terrorists in a foiled attack on a military base in Galcad town in central Somalia on Friday, the government said.
The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism confirmed that seven SNA soldiers were killed in the early morning attack in the Galgaduud region.
The ministry said the soldiers who have ramped up military operations in central Somalia also destroyed five technical vehicles that terrorists were using.
Witnesses said al-Shabab struck the entrance of the military base with twin car bombs after the morning prayers and then stormed inside the compound.
However, the soldiers manning the base repulsed them, killing 100 al-Shabab fighters while others escaped with serious injuries.
Hassan Osman Mohamed, the deputy commander of special forces (Danab), was among the government soldiers killed in the attack.
Al-Shabab terrorists who have been fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government claimed responsibility for the latest attack, saying its fighters killed 159 government forces.
The al-Qaida allied terror group normally inflates casualty figures during their battle with the government’s security forces.
The attacks continue across Somalia despite the security forces backed by allied forces having stepped up operations against the militants in the country.