Tagged:

Scores Killed in Islamic State's Attack on Somalia Military Base

At least 100 people have been killed and up to 60 wounded by Islamic State (IS) militants on the Puntland military base in Somalia's Bari region. The militants used car bombs and suicide motorbikes to attack before a fierce gun battle ensued.

Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, Puntland's spokesperson for security operations, said it was the deadliest attack since Puntland launched its January offensive against IS hideouts in the mountains. The militants were repelled, but the death toll could rise as many were killed in caves.

This attack follows clashes between Puntland forces and IS, including a U.S. airstrike targeting high-ranking IS operatives. Puntland's ongoing offensive has reportedly killed nearly 200 IS fighters, including foreign militants, and reclaimed territory from the group. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the airstrike on social media, describing the main target as a "Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led".

InFocus

Stuart Price / UN IST PHOTO / AMISOM Public Information / Flickr (CC0 1.0)

Soldiers of the Somali National Army (SNA) are silhouetted against the setting sun (file photo).

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.