The Somali government is reporting that 67 al-Shabaab militants were killed in a failed attempt to overrun a Somalian National Army base in Baxdo, Galmudug, Somalia. The attack began 16 hours ago when militants initiated rocket and mortar fire followed by an infantry advance on the base. This base was the scene of a similar battle in January where 10 militants were killed by residents of the town, who are armed.

Approximately 16 Somali National Army and Galmudug State forces soldiers were killed, along with at least three civilians. The attack was foiled when the infantry advance was apparently abandoned by a large vehcile born improvised explosive device (vbied), of which the driver was arrested after the firefighter. The vehicle is shown below:

Somali National Army Chief, Odowa Yusuf Rage said that Somalia’s elite forces and Galmudug Paramilitary forces are still pursuing the remnants of the terrorists fleeing from the area so far, telling that the casualties on Al-Shabaab side could rise any time. These photos of the al-shabaab dead were published to Facebook from locals after the battle: