At least 6 Somali soldiers killed in landmine blast

Tuesday May 9, 2017

A man inspects a bloody blanket at the scene of a landmine blast in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, Dec. 15, 2016. Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

MOGADISHU, May 9 (Xinhua) -- At least six Somali soldiers were killed and several others injured in a landmine blast in Bay region of southwest Somalia on Tuesday, an official said.

Information Minister for Southwest State, Ugaas Hassan told Xinhua the soldiers were killed after their vehicle hit a landmine as they were rushing to help to provide reinforcement to regional forces who were engaged in heavy fighting with Al-Shabaab.

"I can confirm that six southwest State forces were killed after their vehicle hit a landmine blast, two other military vehicles were captured by Al-Shabaab, some soldiers are also missing now," Hassan said.

Witnesses said at least eight people were killed after the militants captured the strategic town of Goofgaduud near Baidoa city after a deadly battle with Southwest and Somali government troops.