15 Al-Shabaab fighters killed in fighting in Bakool region

Fifteen people have been killed when Somali and African Union troops clashed with Al-Shabaab Islamists in south-western Somalia, officials said Tuesday.

The fighting took place on Monday outside Moragabey village in the Bakool region after  al-Shabaab fighters attacked SNA base near the village, said Mohamed Abdi, governor of Bakol province.

He said 15 Al-Shabaab fighters and one soldier were killed.

Pro-Al-Shabaab media reported the village was captured by their fighters Monday, but the mayor of the nearby town of Huddur, Mohamed Moallim Ahmed, and residents disputed the claim.

Meanwhile Southwest State forces of the Bakool and surrounding regions have recently stepped up military operations to open roads blocked by Al-Shabaab.

5 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in heavy fighting between the group and the forces in the outskirt Diinsor town, according to District Commissioner of Diinsoor, Ibraahim Shik Shigow.

“Our forces killed 5 members of the Al-Shabaab group during the battle. We also fully control the areas where the fighting occurred and the troops are advancing to new locations in the region in order to liberate more areas from remnants in the region at the moment,” Shigow said.