MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – At least 16 al-Shabaab fighters were killed and dozen others injured after clashes with Somali forces, military official said.
In a statement, Isma’il Abdi Malik Malin, SNA commander said forces killed the militants during a fighting to support locals Shabelow village which 20km west of Ba’adweyne town.
“The militants attack locals in the village, prompting heavy fighting which last for hours. We dispatched reinforcement to help the locals,” he said. “During the fighting 16 fighters were killed and 20 there sustained inuries.”
Despite the claims by the army, the fighting claimed lives of civilians in the village.
Chief of Shabelow village, Mohamed Ibrahim, who spoke to VOA by phone said the chief said eight of the residents.
“They [al-Shabab] killed eight civilians, including elders who could not run away, and women, and I saw the dead bodies of six of al-Shabab fighters,” Ibrahim said.
The militant group briefly captured and torched houses before withdrawing.
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