An airstrike hit an al-Shabaab military base in Kismayo, Lower Juba region, early on Thursday. The al-Shabaab base saw massive detonations which caused numerous casualties, yet because al-Shabaab has not allowed anyone to approach the area, the number of dead remains unknown, said witnesses in Kismayo who spoke to Somalia Report.
"A very loud explosion was heard from al-Shabaabs military bases near Kismayo, especially the new military base which the militants began to use after their old bases were pounded by airstrikes. There have been numerous casualties but nobody knows how many there were, or what kind of explosion devices, reported a witness in Kismayo who prefers to remain anonymous. Witnesses in Kismayo told Somalia Report that small cars arrived immediately on the scene, removed a number of dead and wounded fighters who they took to a nearby hospital. "The explosion was huge. We heard the blast and saw the dark smoke fill the sky, surely there are many casualties. But al-Shabaab hasn't allowed civilians to see their dead and injured.
Many residents have been trying to see for themselves but the area is still restricted, reported a resident of Kismayo who gave his name as Ali. There have been several airstrikes against camps belonging to the al-Shabaab militant group in the area, most recently in Hiiraan region when another blast hit a al-Shabaab base in Bulo-Barde town in the middle of last month.
