Baidoa, Somalia – This morning, Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on a military base jointly operated by Somali National Army and South West State forces in the Burjeed area, approximately 15 km from Baidoa, the interim capital of South West State, according to the Somali government.

The Somali National Army’s 60th Division confirmed to state media that the assault began at around 5:00 a.m., with Al-Shabaab targeting a base that had recently been used to launch operations against the group.

Colonel Hassan Ali Sanweyne, Commander of the 8th Battalion under the 60th Division, stated that 35 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack, and more than 60 others were injured. He added that operations are still ongoing to track down those who escaped.

Somali and South West State forces displayed the bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters killed in the assault, many of which were scattered at the scene. Photos and videos were taken, and crowds gathered at Baidoa’s Afar Irdood Square, where the bodies were brought for public viewing.

“Following the operation, our forces recovered the bodies of 18 Khawarij fighters, including commanders. The search is ongoing, and some of the remains have been burned,” said a statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

The attack comes as Al-Shabaab has recently increased its assaults on military positions and government targets across Somalia.