9 killed in suicide car blasts in Somalia

At least nine people, including Somali government forces, were killed when double suicide car bomb blasts targeted a military base in the Lower Shabelle region Wednesday, according to the military.

"Terrorist group al-Shabaab had attacked our military base in Awdhegle town with two suicide car bomb blasts, killing at least 9 people including 2 al-Shabaab attackers, government soldiers and a photojournalist," a senior military official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Local media reported six soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in the attack.

Odawa Yusuf Rage, land forces commander in Awdhegle, confirmed the attack but did not provide information on casualties.

Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the suicide blasts, claiming it had killed many government forces.

Earlier this month Somali special forces backed by African Union forces in Somalia (AMISOM) liberated the strategic agricultural town of Awdhegle from al-Shabaab.