Militant Attack Kills 6 Somali Soldiers

Somali authorities say al-Shabab militants attacked a military base on the outskirts of the town of Baidoa Friday, killing at least six Somali soldiers and leaving at least 18 people wounded. Earlier this week, the United States confirmed al-Shabab's intelligence and security chief Tahlil Abdishakur died Monday in a U.S. airstrike on a vehicle in the Somali town of Saakow. The Pentagon said the death of Tahlil, who was responsible for al-Shabab's external operations, will have a significant impact on al-Shabab's ability to conduct attacks against the Somali government, the Somali people, and U.S. allies and interests. A Pentagon spokesman said it is believed the raid caused no civilian casualties. In September, another U.S. airstrike in Somalia killed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane. The al-Qaida affiliated al-Shabab has tried for years to overthrow the Somali government and turn the country into a conservative Islamic state. Somali and African Union troops been in recapturing towns and cities that were once under al-Shabab control.



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