JOWHAR (SD) – At least four soldiers working under the framework of the African Union Mission In Somalia (Amisom) have been killed and several others wounded in two blasts in the Lower Shabelle region, Somalia based terror group claimed on Sunday.

In a statement posted on its affiliate media, al-Shabaab said its fighters attacked Burundian soldiers under Amisom with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the region.

The soldiers were patrolling on foot between the vicinity of Buurane and Mahaday towns when they came under attack.

“Four Amisom soldiers were killed in attacks executed by our fighters. Several African Union soldiers were also wounded in the two blasts,” the statement reads in part.

An official, who spoke to the Anadolu Agency over the phone on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media said al-Shabaab terrorists flooded villages in the region on purpose to stop AMISOM and the Somali national army from travelling.

“By the way, al-Shabaab has deliberately flooded villages between Balcad and Jowhar after they broke the water reserves of Xawaadleey vicinity which was built during the 1970s to assist the Shabelle regions during the dry season. They are doing this because they fear military operations against their hideous,” he said.

Mahaday, which houses an AMISOM base, is an agricultural town located 118 kilometers (73 miles) north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.