(SD) – Heavily armed Al Shabaab fighters launched an early morning attack on an ATMIS military base in El Baraf area of Mahaday district.

According to reports, suicide bombers attacked a Burundian ATMIS Soldiers at the military base followed by Al-Shabaab fighters storming the base and entering the camp.

ATMIS troops in the camp were asleep when they were shocked by the explosions and gunfire, and a direct confrontation ensued.

Al-Shabaab said in a statement that it had taken control of an ATMIS base in El-Baraf, killing several Burundian soldiers.

Residents in El Baraf reported hearing heavy gunfire and heavy artillery fire, leading to Somali military withdrawing from the area.

ATMIS has not yet released any information about the fighting in their camp in El Baraf.