DHAKA: Unidentified foreign forces have launched a night-time raid on a militant base in the south Somali town of Barawe from the sea, reports say.

A spokesman for the al-Shabab Islamist group told media that a fighter had been killed in the raid, reports the BBC.

Reports speak of residents in the militant-controlled town being woken by heavy gunfire before dawn prayers.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility last month for a deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping mall.

At least 67 people were killed after militants stormed the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi, on 21 September.

An unnamed Somali intelligence official told media that the targets of Saturday’s raid had been ‘high-profile’ foreigners.

The source did not say which country had carried out the operation.

Both US and French special forces have carried out raids on coastal targets in Somalia in recent years.

BDST: 1416 HRS, OCT 05, 2013
RoR/BSK