In a brazen assault, the terrorist group Al-Shabaab targeted a military base manned by Ethiopian troops in Somalia on Wednesday, resulting in injuries to four soldiers, as confirmed by authorities.
The attack took place on the outskirts of Dolow, a town located along the Ethiopian-Somali border. Somali government sources reported that the attack involved two vehicles and was swiftly foiled by the vigilant Ethiopian security forces stationed at the base.
According to the Somali government’s statement published on the state-run news agency SONNA, the first vehicle exploded at the entrance of the base, causing significant damage and injuring four soldiers.
However, the second vehicle was successfully neutralized before reaching the base, preventing further harm.
“The Ethiopian National Defence Forces stopped the attackers in their tracks before they could wreak havoc.
“The ENDF neutralized suicide bombers and destroyed weapons to be used by the terrorist group,” stated the Foreign Ministry on Twitter.
Ethiopian forces, deployed as non-African Union (AU) peacekeepers, have been supporting Somalia’s government in their fight against Al-Shabaab and guarding the border to prevent terrorist infiltrations into Ethiopia.
Last year, these non-AU forces were deployed in the Gedo region following a surge of Al-Shabaab militants crossing into Ethiopia, leading to weeks of intense clashes between the terrorists and Ethiopian forces.
This recent attack on Wednesday marks the third assault on foreign troops in Somalia in less than two weeks.
Al-Shabaab had previously carried out a deadly attack on an African Union forces base in late May, located in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia.
The targeted base in Bulo Marer, situated 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, was manned by Ugandan forces serving under the AU’s mission in the country.
Since 2007, Al-Shabaab has been engaged in fighting against the Somali government and the AU mission in Somalia.
Somalia has long been plagued by insecurity, with Al-Shabaab and the ISIS-affiliated group Daesh posing significant threats in the region.
