The Somali National Army (SNA) said on Tuesday that its forces foiled an attack and inflicted heavy casualties on the militant group al-Shabaab.

The suicide bombing attack targeted an SNA based in the central part of the country early on Tuesday.

“The Somali National Army has repelled an attack by al-Shabaab militants on a military base in the southern town of Amara in Mudug region,” SNA said.

SNA did not disclose the number of casualties.

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The al-Qaeda allied terrorist group which has been fighting to overthrow the government claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Amara, a town in the Mudug region, is one of the areas recently taken over by Somali government forces and regional Galmudug forces.