Al Shabaab militants have launched a major attack against a KDF military installation in Kulbiyow town in Lower Jubba, according to witnesses and local reports.
The militants detonated two suicide car bombs that have been described as “massive”, apparently one after the other as gunmen stormed the base according to residents.
A local resident who contacted Idale News Online has said that the both the base and the town have been overrun by Al-Shabaab forces after heavy fighting and he is anticipating heavy casualties when the smoke clears, although Idale News Online has not been able to independently verify these claims.
According to Reuters, an Al Shabaab military spokesman has confirmed that they have taken over the base
“Two mujahideen rammed suicide car bombs into the base in Kulbiyow town before storming it. After hand-to-hand fighting, we have taken over the base,” said Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operation spokesman.
This attack comes just days after Al-Qaeda aligned Al Shabaab attacked a popular hotel in Mogadishu killing 28 and wounding scores more. If our sources are accurate, this would mean the same modus operandi was used in both attacks whereby militants used one car bomb to penetrate the walls of the compound and a second car bomb was set off immediately afterward.
We are working to bring you more information as it happens.
