Bomb blast kills at least 2 security personnel in Somalia

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least two Somali military personnel were killed and several others wounded when a bomb blast targeted military vehicles carrying security personnel in the country's south.

The security convoy was hit by remotely controlled explosive devices while traveling between the town of Jowhar and the small town of Qalimow in the Middle Shabelle region, according to officials who spoke to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

"A military vehicle was destroyed by a landmine explosion, and several soldiers were wounded and taken to a hospital in Mogadishu for treatment," an official said.

Jowhar, a major town located 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the nation’s capital Mogadishu, is the administrative capital of Hirshabelle State.

Separately, at least three soldiers were killed and four wounded when the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab attacked a Somali National Army base in the vicinity of Qalimow in the Middle Shabelle region.

Officials in the region have confirmed the attack and causalities on the Somali military side.

Al-Shabaab claimed it had burned down the whole base and seized military equipment.

The group claimed that 12 soldiers, including senior officials, were either killed or wounded in the attack.

Qalimow is a small locality located 65 km (40 mi) from Mogadishu.