6 killed in Al-Shabaab attack on military base

The armed group Al-Shabaab attacked a Somali military base killing six soldiers in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Garowe Online reported.

Al-Shabaab overpowered the military base in Balad district, southern Somalia, seizing weapons and ammunition. Somali soldiers guarding the barracks fled guarding positions as Al-Shabaab launched the attacked at dawn. There is no confirmation or reports on civilian casualties.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Read: African Union mission killed 42 children in Somalia last year, claims UN report

The African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been signed off by the United Nations to counter the threat of Al-Shabaab. The Somali national army are additionally receiving assistance by the United States to conduct counter-terrorism operations against Al-Shabaab.

Somalia has faced internal conflict with the armed group Al-Shabaab, who are affiliated with Al-Qaeda, for over 10 years. Al-Shabaab aims to implement a strict version of Islamic law across the country forcefully, regularly conducting raids and suicide attacks using improvised explosive devices.