Five soldiers among 26 killed in Somalia attack

BBC News:

Authorities in Somalia say 26 people have been killed and scores injured in Tuesday morning’s attack at a military base in Hawadley town, in the Middle Shabelle region.

The dead include five national soldiers and 21 fighters from the al-Shabab militant group.

The attack began after a suicide bomber stormed the base. Heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard early on Tuesday as the army clashed with the militants.

The attack comes just days after the army captured the strategic port of Haradhere, which has been held by al-Shabab group for 15 years.

Al-Shabab has lost huge swathes of territory since August last year, when government troops backed by clan militia launched an offensive in southern and central Somalia.

But the group has continued to carry out attacks mainly targeting government buildings and African Union troops.

Over the last week, it carried out four deadly bombings in the central region of Hiram.