APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has lauded forces of the Somali National Army (SNA) for thwarting an al-Shabaab attack on a military base in the country’s southwest state.
The insurgents attempted to attack Albao military base and Elishabiya detachment last 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.
al-Shabab 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.
The resolutions mandate the mission to hand over security responsibilities in agreed areas to Somali security forces.
The SNA said its forces killed 15 al-Shabab fighters including three commanders Thursday evening during the operation conducted in the southwest region.
MG/as/APA