According to Ethiopia, its Somalian forces stopped an al-Shabab attack on a base on Wednesday in the Somali town of Doolow.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that the attackers were halted in their tracks before they could cause damage by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).
The ENDF also eliminated terrorist organization weapons and neutralized suicide bombers, according to the statement.
An Ethiopian military base outside of the town was the target of two explosions on Wednesday, soon after 10 a.m. local time, according to inhabitants of Doolow.
The first explosion happened near a checkpoint for the base’s entry, according to a resident who asked to remain anonymous for security concerns, while the second explosion happened elsewhere.
A white column of smoke can be seen rising from the scene of the first explosion in a supposedly filmed clip taken by a second homeowner. The second explosion’s sound was audible as the witness recorded it.
Ethiopia maintains tens of thousands of soldiers in Somalia to combat al-Shabab and guard its border. The soldiers participate in an AU mission to assist the Somali government. Due to a bilateral arrangement with the Somali government, Ethiopia also has non-AU forces to combat al-Shabab and guard its border.
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement, claiming that it sent two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices that were being driven by suicide bombers.
The first truck reportedly exploded at the base’s entrance, causing “significant damage” and wounded four soldiers, according to the state-run Somali National News Agency (SONNA).
According to Osman Nuh Haji, a regional security spokesman for Somalia, there were no civilian or military casualties, and troops had destroyed a vehicle before it reached the base.
According to him, an explosives-laden car approached the base guarded by Somali and Ethiopian military.
The base is some distance from the checkpoint. The soldiers opened fire to try to halt the car when it wouldn’t stop, according to Haji. “They destroyed it with a missile when that failed and they realized it was carrying explosives.”
The town’s airfield is where the base is situated. According to Haji, the goal of the truck was to enter the base and the airport and harm the soldiers and aircraft as much as possible.
This article was contributed to by Tigist Geme.
