(Reuters) - The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack on a shopping mall in Kenya’s capital, showing it can still strike back despite coming under pressure in Somalia from offensives by African troops, including Kenyans. SNA forces had only established the military outpost at Barire recently after taking control of the town in August with the help of African Union troops. The Al-Qaeda aligned group has been fighting to overthrow successive internationally-backed governments in Somalia for the last decade and carries out frequent attacks on military, government and civilian targets. The governor of Lower Shabelle region, Ibrahim Aden Najah, told VOA Somali that the militants attacked near the town of Barire, 47 kilometers (29 miles) southwest of Mogadishu. “This attack was very sophisticated with the militants raiding the base from three directions, there were two huge blasts, presumably suicide bombs,” said Mohamed Malim.
Al-Shabaab militants attack a military base outside the Somalian capital Mogadishu, with 15 soldiers reported dead.