Somalia Attack Claims Lives of Three Emirati Soldiers, Bahraini Officer

In Somalia, three soldiers from the United Arab Emirates and a Bahraini officer were killed during a terrorist attack at a location where they were involved in training activities for the Somali national army, according to an announcement from the UAE’s defense ministry on Saturday.

The ministry described the incident as a terrorist attack targeting the soldiers as they fulfilled their duties in supporting and training the Somali Armed Forces. This announcement was made through a statement on the social media platform X, where it was also mentioned that two additional individuals were injured, though further specifics were not provided.

The statement highlighted ongoing collaboration and coordination with the Somali government to investigate this egregious act of terrorism.

According to a source from the Somali military, the attack within a training facility in Mogadishu was perpetrated by a Somali army member, leading to the deaths and injuries of several individuals, including Emirati soldiers. The assailant, who was stationed at the camp, was killed during the incident.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al-Shabaab, an extremist group affiliated with al-Qaida that has been conducting a violent insurgency against the Somali government and its international supporters for more than a decade.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud extended his condolences to the UAE, mourning the loss of the military personnel who were in Somalia to aid in the reconstruction of its army. He vehemently condemned the attack and announced an immediate investigation into the incident.

This tragic event unfolds in the context of strengthened military and security collaboration between the UAE and Somalia, formalized by an agreement signed in January 2023.