3 UAE troops, 1 Bahraini officer killed in Somalia attack
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The UAE Ministry of Defense says it continues to coordinate and collaborate with the Somali government in investigating the recent terrorist act.
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The Emirati flag sways in the wind as the skyline of Dubai is seen in the background, on 3 June 2022. (AFP)
The UAE Ministry of Defense has announced the killing of three of its troops, along with a Bahraini officer, following a terrorist attack in Somalia.
In a statement, the Ministry mentioned that two other troops were injured, adding that the attack occurred while the troops were training the Somali Armed Forces under a bilateral agreement between the UAE and Somalia, as part of their military cooperation.
The statement also affirmed that the UAE continues to coordinate and collaborate with the Somali government in investigating the recent terrorist act.
تعلن وزارة الدفاع عن استشهاد 3 من منتسبي القوات المسلحة الإماراتية وضابط من قوة دفاع البحرين وإصابة 2 آخرين اثر تعرضهم لعمل إرهابي في جمهورية الصومال الشقيقة، أثناء أدائهم مهام عملهم في تدريب وتأهيل القوات المسلحة الصومالية، والتي تندرج ضمن الاتفاقية الثنائية بين دولة الإمارات… pic.twitter.com/0LSUpEJPkE
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) February 10, 2024
The attack was claimed by al Shabaab.
Somalia has witnessed terrorist operations for years due to the conflict between government forces and militants from the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group, which seeks to topple the Somali government and control the state in the Horn of Africa region.
The group controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by African Union troops, but it still holds swathes of territory in rural Somalia. It continues to carry out attacks against security and civilian targets, including in the capital, despite a government counter-offensive.
