The deceased include personnel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Somalia, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities and the ongoing fight against armed groups.
According to reports, the gunman, a Somali soldier who had just completed training, unleashed a hail of bullets during prayer time, targeting both UAE trainers and Somali military officials. The attack resulted in the immediate deaths of four Somali soldiers and left four UAE officers critically wounded. The gunman himself was also neutralized in the ensuing exchange of fire.
The militant group Al-Shabaab, notorious for its insurgency against the Somali government since 2006, swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack. They released a statement through their radio station, Radio al Andalus, boasting of killing 17 soldiers, a figure significantly higher than official reports.
However, the UAE's defense ministry painted a different picture, terming the incident a "terrorist act" and confirming the deaths of three of their soldiers and one Bahraini officer who was assisting in training Somali forces. The ministry further announced their commitment to cooperating with Somali authorities in a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, offered his heartfelt condolences to the UAE government and the families of the victims in a statement broadcasted on state media (SONNA). He vowed to work relentlessly to ensure the safety of all personnel involved in training Somali forces and dismantle the threat posed by armed groups like Al-Shabaab.
The attack at the Gordon military base serves as a stark reminder of the fragile security situation in Somalia. (ILKHA)