MOGADISHU (SD) – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has firmly denied media reports claiming that its forces suffered heavy casualties during a battle in the Barire area, located southwest of Mogadishu.

In an official statement released today, AUSSOM responded to allegations by the Al-Shabaab group regarding the destruction of armored vehicles belonging to African Union troops and claims that its forces retreated from Bariire after intense fighting.

The statement clarified that joint forces from AUSSOM and the Somali National Army (SNA) conducted a large-scale military operation on August 1st to retake control of Barire.