Reports from southern Somalia indicate that Al Shabaab fighters launched a heavy attack this morning on the Sabiid and Canoole areas on the outskirts of Afgooye district in Lower Shabelle region.
This area, which was recently the scene of a massacre against civilians by AUSSOM forces and the Somali federal government forces, was taken over by the jihadists this morning in a land attack, after inflicting heavy losses on the allied forces.
Sources we have received indicate that Al Shabaab forces have completely taken over the Sabiid and Canoole areas after crushing the AUSSOM forces, especially the Ugandan forces, who were there.
Reports indicate that the Ugandan and Somali Federal Government forces have dispersed towards Afgooye district.
Heavy losses have been suffered by the African Union forces as well as those of the Somali Federal Government.
Al Shabaab fighters have raised the flag of Tawheed over all the positions of the African Union forces and the government forces in the Sabiid and Canoole areas.
Al-Shabaab's command, which issued a statement on the battle, confirmed that they had taken control of bases in the Sabiid and Aanoole areas.
Al-Shabaab said they had inflicted heavy losses on government and AUSSOM forces, and had also captured a large amount of military equipment.
Photos from Al-Shabaab's media office show the jihadists in the Sabiid area, having captured a large amount of military equipment, including combat vehicles.
