MOGADISHU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three Somali soldiers were killed and four others injured on Thursday in a landmine explosion at Janay Abdala near Kismayo town in southern Somalia.
Jubbaland army official, Hassan Iraqi, told reporters that blast happened when Jubbaland forces, AMISOM and other foreign troops returned from a joint operation in the region.
AMISOM stands for African Union Mission in Somalia. Burundi, Dijibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda contributed troops to AMISOM. Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda contributed police personnel.
"I can confirm that three Jubbaland forces were killed and four others injured in the roadside blast," Iraqi said. "There were no casualties on AMISOM and other foreign soldiers who returned from a special operation against Al-Shabaab militants."
He denied reports that U.S. soldiers were among those targeted in the blast in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia.
Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack. The group claimed to have killed and injured American soldiers in the roadside bomb attack.
The landmine blast came days after airstrikes increased in Lower Jubba and Gedo regions in Jubbaland State in Somalia.
