At least 19 civilians have been killed and many more wounded after a car-bomb and gun attack besieged a hotel and popular restaurant in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Reuters reported Thursday.
RELATED:
US Strikes al-Shabaab's Main Training Bases in Somalia
According to police and witnesses, after a car bomb exploded at the gated entrance of the restaurant Wednesday evening, a group of gunmen dressed in military uniforms held dozens hostage inside the restaurant, Associated Press reported.
Somali government security forces regained control of the restaurant at midnight, following a several hour long hostage standoff. Five of the attackers were killed in by security forces.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The group, which seeks to overthrow the Somali government, has lost significant ground since it was driven from Mogadishu in 2011. It frequently targets wealthier areas of Mogadishu, including hotels, government buildings, and military targets.
It has escalated its campaign and promised more attacks in the face of renewed military operations by the Somali government and the United States.
Reports have indicated that the U.S. has been carrying out extensive military operations within Somalia since 2003, including the heavy use of drone strikes to combat al-Shabaab, in spite of the fact that the U.S. has not declared war in Somalia.