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Al-Shabaab militants launch deadly attack on African Union base in Somalia

Al-Shabaab fighters have launched a deadly attack on an African Union military base in Somalia on Friday, with both sides reportedly suffering heavy casualties.

The militant fighters attacked a forward operating base in Buulo Mareer, about 120 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said in a statement.

The Islamist fighters used Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and suicide bombers, according to the African Union.

Unverified images shared on jihadi media channels showed about a dozen Ugandan troops, with arms restrained behind their backs, being captured by the militants.

Soldiers from the Ugandan People’s Democratic Army are stationed at the forward operating base as a peacekeeping force.

Uganda’s Ministry of Defense Spokesman tweeted early Friday that there had been “an early morning attack on our troops” in Somalia by Al-Shabaab and that the Ugandan Defense Ministry was seeking more details.

Following the clashes ATMIS reinforcements and allies were able to destroy the Al-Shabaab militants’ weapons, the Somali army captain said.

The U.S. State Department condemned the attack, confirming that Ugandan peacekeeping forces deployed to the African Union forward operating base were attacked.

The European Union also condemned the attack.

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