At least seventeen people were killed and over a dozen others wounded on Monday night in a heavy fighting between Somali National Army (SNA) and Al-Shabab fighters in the Gedo region in Southern Somalia, military official and witnesses said.
Gen. Osman Hajji Adan, the commander of 43rd battalion of Somali Army said that Al-Shabab fighters had attacked Burdhubo town, about 410 km South of Somali capital.
“Al-Shabab using heavy machine guns mounted on vehicles, RPGs with over 70 fighters attacked the town from different directions, engaging in a fierce gun battle with joint AMISOM and Somali troops for about an hour,” Mr. Adan said.
The fighting claimed lives 13 Al-Shabab fighters and two Somali soldiers leaving behind over 15 injuries of combatants from both sides, according to Mr. Adan.
” We had the advantage of knowing the town well and the merit of being at night, We killed over 13 Al-Shabab and injured over 10 others as our forces destroyed two Al-Shabab vehicles, casualties on our side is two deaths and five injuries,” he explained.
Ali Osman Hashi, a local resident in the town said two civilians were killed by stray bullets during the clashes in the town.
“Al-Shabab attacked the town, prompting fierce fighting between the fighters and Somali forces backed by Ethiopian military in the town, a woman and a boy were killed by stray bullets at their homes near the bridge of Burdhubo town,” Mr. Osman told local radio.
Al-Shabab confirmed the attack through pro-Shabab media claiming that their fighters conducted covert operation against Somali army in Burdhubo town
The group has been conducting hit and run attacks against the government and continental forces in South and central Somalia of the country since its fighters lost control of the capital city seven years ago.
Al-Shabab which wants to overthrow the government had carried out deadly bomb attacks in the main towns of the country including one in Mogadishu which killed over 600 people late last year.
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