LAS ANOD, Somalia – Fighting erupted between the breakaway region of Somaliland forces and local clan militia battling for the control of the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions.
The separatists were shelling the city with mortars hitting residential areas, including the business buildings and homes. Somaliland authorities could not immediately be reached for comment on the alleged bombardment.
The SSC fighters managed to repel the attack on the outskirts of the city of LasAnod and dealt a major blow to the regional troops, who failed to advance towards the eastern side.
The conflict between the two sides has been going on for almost six months and the Somaliland troops is currently stationed at the Goja-Adde base near LasAnod town.
So far, at least 220 people have died and 900 have been wounded, according to the medics.
Somaliland claims the borders of the old British Somaliland protectorate which merged with what was known as Italian Somaliland in the 1960s to form Somalia.
