...... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...group staged a daring raid on a small town under the Somali government in the Middle Shabelle region on Tuesday.
The Lions of Islam who came in fighting vehicles swept into a military base in Daru-Nima village, which lies near the newly liberated RunirGood, and engaged in a shootout with the SNA.
The ambush was followed an hour-long battle which inflicted losses on both warring sides, according to the locals, who spoke to Radio Shabelle by phone on condition of anonymity.
Al-Shabaab claimed the upper hand of the fighting, adding that it killed 20 soldiers and maimed 10 others, a claim that Radio Shabelle could not independently verify.
The group also said it burned down two military vehicles in the rampage of the base.
Somali government is yet to release a statement regarding the al-Shabaab claims. The reports from the area indicate that the army is in control after pushing back the krazed killers.