(19-07-23) MOGADISHU – Details continue to emerge about Thursday morning’s attack by Al-Shabaab militants on a military base in the Arbacow area, on the outskirts of Ceelasha Biyah, between Mogadishu and Afgoye, resulting in the tragic loss of five soldiers and causing numerous injuries, as more details of the assault become available.
The military base, located in the Arbacow area on the outskirts of Ceelas Biyah between Mogadishu and Afgoye, had been recently handed over to the Somali government by the ATMIS forces. It had been a key training centre for military police forces trained in Uganda.
Eyewitness accounts describe a heavily armed Al-Shabaab squadron launching a direct offensive against the station. An intense firefight ensued, featuring an array of weapon types, leading to confirmed casualties and injuries.
Despite the losses, military police force officers have reported a successful resistance against the attackers, forcing them into retreat. Government forces have since taken control of the scene, working to maintain security.
The assault is the latest in a growing string of Al-Shabaab attacks, notably including Monday’s offensive in the Deniile District of Mogadishu that claimed the lives of five soldiers. This escalating violence poses significant security concerns in the capital city, Mogadishu.
