Hiiraan Online
Saturday, October 31, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)- At least 15 people have been killed and dozens others were injured in a fighting between allied AU and Somali forces and militants in south-western Somalia Saturday, officials said.
The fighting has started after Al-Shabab fighters attacked Garasweyne and Mooro-Gabey villages in Bakool region that are under the control of troops, sparking a heavy fighting which lasted more than one hour.
Mohamed Maalin, the commissioner of Bakool region told local media that their troops have killed 52 Al-Shabab during the fighting which forced hundreds of residents to flee from their homes.
He however admitted that troops have suffered causalities; however he declined to give more details.
Al-shabab has claimed their fighters have seized the two villages during the fighting which comes as the allied forces are struggling to consolidate gains they made in the region since last years in which they launched an offensive against Al-Shabab.
Al-shabab which has lost key strongholds to allied forces from the African Union and Somali government has stepped up its attacks across Somalia, attacking military bases and government institutions.
The latest assault shows that the militants group is retaining capability to move across the country as parts of its deadly insurgency aimed at recapturing the areas it lost in the past few years.
Al-Shabab fighters have also recently recaptured towns and villages in south and central Somalia lost to the new offensive after allied forces have withdrawn.
Despite the challenges, Somalia’s prime minister has vowed his government would push militants out of the areas still under their control in 2016, a year Somalia proposed to hold presidential elections.