Somali forces retake a town in Southern Somalia

Troops from Somali National Army (SNA) have recaptured a town in southern Somalia from Al-Shabaab fighters following a fierce gun battle that lasted hours, official and residents said.

Goofgaduud town which lies about 250 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu has been briefly fallen into the hands of Al-Shabaab fighters after the group launched surprise attack on the town on Sunday morning.

Mohamed Farah Warsame who is Somali military officer in the frontline said Somali forces have managed to retake the full control of the town.

Warsame disclosed that the death of five soldiers and five others who sustained injuries during the gun battle with Al-Shabaab.

He also said Somali forces killed over ten Al-Shabaab fighters during the fighting.

“More than fifteen combatants including five soldiers and ten Al-Shabaab were killed and over thirty others sustained injuries,” said Warsame.

Ali Abuukar Aney, a resident in Goofgaduud town said both sides fought hours that led displacement of the local residents.

Aney noted that the groups burnt houses and some tents in Somali military base before the fled.

Al-Shabaab said their fighters killed over 15 soldiers in a heavy fighting.

The Ethiopian government said that its troops fighting Al-Shabaab group in Somalia were retreating for strategic and logistical reasons.