MOGADISHU, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Somali extremist group al-Shabab attacked a military base in southern Somalia early Monday, killing unknown number of soldiers, officials said.
A senior military commander confirmed the 5 a.m. attack in Sanguni, 50 km north of Kismayo, adding the Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers repulsed the attack.
The militant group said its fighters first attacked the military base with a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) and then stormed and later took control of the base, killing several soldiers while other ran into the forest.
However, the commander who declined to be named, said the militants destroyed the truck bomb before it could reach the military base.
"There was heavy fighting between the soldiers and the militants but we managed to foil the attack," said the SNA official.
Independent sources said at least three soldiers and seven al-Shabab militants were killed during the attack. Sources said the death toll could be higher due to heavy fighting that ensued.
The latest attack comes amid heightened security in the Somali capital following the deployment of more security forces and erection of security roadblocks along key roads.
