At least 15 killed as Galmudug troops and Al-Shabab clash in central Somalia

At least 15 people were killed in clashes between Somali troops and Al-Shabaab in central regions  on Tuesday, a senior military official said.

The combat flared up after Galmudug troops launched  military offensive on Ba’adley area, a training camp for the Al-Shabaab fighters, according to residents.

Galmudug commander who declined his name told Goobjoog News that they attacked the Al-Shabaab held area  in a move to flush out Al-Shabaab fighters from the region.
He said that they have killed 11 Al-Shabab fighters and injured several others in Ba’aadweyn clashes.

“Among the dead were 11 Islamist insurgents and four government soldiers,” he said.

Pro-Al shabaab media outlets reported that ten of Galmudug soldiers were killed by Al-Shabab fighters.

Civilians are reportedly among the victims caught in the fighting.

Al-Shabab is battling the UN-backed government in Somalia, and has carried out a string of attacks in neighbouring Kenya. The group, has been pushed out of most of the main towns it once controlled, but it remains a potent threat.

It has been targeting key government and security figures in the country, trying to overthrow the government in the capital, Mogadishu.

 

 

 
Meanwhile, al Shabaab claimed on pro-insurgent Radio, Andalus, that it had killed more than 15 Somali soldiers in the clashes.
In a separate attack on Thursday, a car bombing in the capital Mogadishu killed a senior Somali intelligence officer, security official Mohamed Hassan told newsmen.
The officer, Mohamed Gardhuub, was seriously wounded when the bomb planted in his car went off, and died in hospital hours later.
Two civilians were also wounded in the blast, witnesses and officials said.