Residents said the attacks at the army bases occurred in Bariirre and Awdhegleh villages of Lower Shabelle region, 75 kilometres (46 miles) south of Mogadishu.
Speaking to the local media, Gen. Odawa Yusuf Ragheh, the commander of the Somali National Army, confirmed the twin attacks but said al-Shabab had been repulsed with heavy losses among the extremists. They even left some of the bodies of their slain commanders, he added, saying his forces were still chasing fleeing fighters.
Gen. Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, the commander of the government s infantry forces, told the AP that we lost nine of our soldiers and 11 others got wounded from our side.
ABC News
Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest?
OffOn
European Central Bank stimulus on track as economy struggles
The European Central Bank has left its bond-purchase stimulus program unchanged as the 19-country eurozone endures a winter economic slowdown due to the pandemic
By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer
January 21, 2021, 3:50 PM
• 4 min read
The Associated Press
Office lights of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
FRANKFURT, Germany With more than a trillion euros in stimulus still in the pipeline to the economy, the European Central Bank left its key bond-purchase program unchanged Thursday as the 19-country eurozone endures a winter economic slowdown due to the pandemic.