Several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed Sunday in a heavy fighting between Somali National Army and the group at a military base near Hudur town, 372 km southwest of Mogadishu.
Deputy district commissioner of Hudur Abdulle Hassan told Idale News Online that two Al-Shabaab fighters attempted to attack their base there were killed during the battle.
“Al-Shabaab attacked army base near Hudur town in Bakool region. The SNA overpowered and shot dead two of them on the spot,” Hassan said.
He said SNA carried out security operations in several villages in the region that targeted Al-Shabaab fighters.
“The key operation occurred at Yab-yab village; the SNA soldiers arrested several Al-Shabaab fighters. They are being questioned at the moment,” he said.
He added that residents took a lion’s share in the latest operation against Al-Shabaab and contributed useful information that led to this successful operation.
He declined to say if there were casualties on their sides.
However, Al-Shabaab militants claimed victory in the attack in which the insurgents claimed to have taken over the army base.
The group said that it captured the SNA base and killed several government soldiers.
Somali National Army backed by the African Union peacekeeping troops have stepped up security operations against Al-Shabaab in the south and central Somalia this year.
Hudur town is the administrative headquarters of Bakool region in Somalia.
