At approximately 0030 EST this morning, initial reports indicated that Al-Shabaab had launched a major attack against Somali government bases in the Bulo Haji, Harbole, and Miido areas of Lower, Juba, Somalia..Terror-affiliated channels on RocketChat claimed that the group had seized control of several military bases and had successfully ambushed a military column en route to the area with reinforcements. The group claimed to have killed more than 70 government troops in what seems to be a targeted attack against US-trained forces and any possible advisers on those bases..By 0545 EST, the Somali government published its first official statement on the battle, claiming that more than 80 Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed and the attack had been repulsed on a single base staffed by US-trained Somali Special Forces in Bulo Haji, Lower Juba..USAFRICOM has made no official statement as of this publication..This is developing.
At approximately 0030 EST this morning, initial reports indicated that Al-Shabaab had launched a major attack against Somali government bases in the Bulo Haji, Harbole, and Miido areas of Lower, Juba, Somalia..Terror-affiliated channels on RocketChat claimed that the group had seized control of several military bases and had successfully ambushed a military column en route to the area with reinforcements. The group claimed to have killed more than 70 government troops in what seems to be a targeted attack against US-trained forces and any possible advisers on those bases..By 0545 EST, the Somali government published its first official statement on the battle, claiming that more than 80 Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed and the attack had been repulsed on a single base staffed by US-trained Somali Special Forces in Bulo Haji, Lower Juba..USAFRICOM has made no official statement as of this publication..This is developing.