#UPDATE KUDHAA ATTACK:

Somalia's #Jubaland forces continued on Friday clearing remnants of IEDs left behind by Al-Shabaab militants in Kudhaa, following Wednesday’s attack.

On Wednesday, the militants overran three military bases in #Kudhaa but fled the same day after looting weapons and ammunition from the sites.

Kudhaa is located approximately 130 kilometers from Kismayo, the capital of Jubaland, and lies close to the Kenya–Somalia border.

There have been significant casualties:

Jubaland forces, supported by U.S. airstrikes (and possibly with Kenyan involvement), killed more than 71 Al-Shabaab militants.

Among the Al-Shabaab dead were wounded fighters who had initially fled and were later hidden in a mosque, where they were subsequently targeted in airstrikes.

64 Jubaland soldiers were killed in the attack, security officials said.

In addition, two women, wives of #Jubaland soldiers, were shot dead by Al-Shabaab militants early Wednesday morning.

Heavy airstrikes carried out from Thursday through Friday prevented Al-Shabaab from escaping with the looted weapons and with 17 prisoners they had captured.

Al-Shabaab brutally killed 13 #Jubalabd soldiers they captured.

The group put out a statement claiming the prisoners died in U.S. airstrikes.

Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe also reported capturing 12 wounded Al-Shabaab fighters who were unable to continue fleeing due to exhaustion and hunger.

@KaabTV
https://en.kaabtv.com/dozens-killed-as-jubaland-repels-al-shabaab-assault-on-kudhaa-island/…