The Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Harakat Shabaab Mujahideen (HSM) has conducted a demonstrative attack targeting the United States Special Operations camp at Balidogle, in Lower Shabelle prefecture of Somalia, Monday 30th September 2019. The attack comes after the camp was massively upgraded and rebuilt. This is the most daring attack by the Al-Qaeda branch in its history, an indicator the group is morphing its strategy to match that of its sister the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Initial intelligence reports indicate that the terrorists deployed 2 suicide vehicle borne explosive devices (SVBIED) to orchestrate the initial part of the attack. There’s no information to clarify if there is an armed assault on the high value camp. This type of attack often has an armed assault element. The camp is used to train Somali Special Forces. It is approximately 110 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu. This attack demonstrates the terror groups capability to plan and conduct attacks on high-value targets regardless of their fortification. It is highly likely, the attack was facilitated by an AS Amniyaat operative embended within the Somali army (SNA) as a SF trainee or soldier.
Balidoghle base has hundreds of American Special Forces and Trainers. It has Drone base besides a Special Forces air-assets facility which handles both heavy and light combat helicopters besides heavy military transport planes. The base is critical in coordinating AMISOM and AFRICOM Counter Terrorism Operations in Somalia.
In December 2017, the terror group staged an attack targeting a Military Transport vehicle carrying Somali Special Forces.
In February 2019, the terror group fired several mortar rounds at the base killing 3 US Soldiers and 5 Somali Army Special Forces.
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