Thursday June 15, 2017
FILE PHOTO
MOGADISHU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least three Somalia soldiers were on Thursday killed and seven others wounded in a landmine blast in the southern region of Middle Shabelle.
The soldiers from Hirshabelle State, about 30 km north of Mogadishu, were killed after their vehicle ran over a landmine near Balcad town.
Hirshabelle Minister for Information Mahad Hassan told Xinhua by phone that landmine destroyed the vehicle.
"I can confirm that three of our soldiers were killed and seven others injured in a remote control landmine blast near Balcad town in Middle Shabelle region this morning. The incident prompted fighting between Hirshabelle forces and Al-Shabaab militants," Hassan said.
The fighting came hours after Somalia security forces ended a siege on hotel and restaurant after the bombing incident in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the latest attack in the region, saying that it killed four soldiers and wounded seven others.