MOGADISHU (SD) – At least three government soldiers were killed and several others injured after al-Shabaab attacked SNA base in Middle Shabelle region.

Military sources confirmed that heavily armed al-Shabaab fighters stormed the base in outskirts of Bal’ad town on Sunday evening.

The attack prompted fierce gunfire between the military and the militants and last for more than an hour, according to locals in the area.

In a statement posted on its affiliate online media, the militant group claimed the responsibility for the attack saying its fighters overran the base and recovered weapons.

Al-Shabaab, an affiliate terror group of al-Qaeda has been fighting Somali and AU troops since 2007.

The group which lost many battles to Somali military has adopted hit and run tactics to target Somali and AU forces in Horn of Africa Nation.