MOGADISHU – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Friday lauded the Somali National Army (SNA) forces for thwarting an al-Shabab attack on a military base in the country’s Southwest State.
Al-Shabab terrorists attempted to attack Albao military base and Elishabiya detachment Thursday but were repulsed by the gallant SNA forces, the ATMIS said in a brief statement.
Albao military base is one of the six military bases that were handed over from the ATMIS to the Somali security forces recently as part of the withdrawal plan of the AU mission.
The al-Shabab group seized Geriley military base in southern Somalia on July 13 after local security forces took it from the ATMIS.
The ATMIS withdrew 2,000 troops by June 30 and is expected to draw down another 3,000 in September in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670, which mandate the mission to hand over security responsibilities in agreed areas to Somali security forces.
The SNA said its forces killed 15 al-Shabab terrorists including three commanders Thursday evening during the operation conducted in the southwest region.
