Source: AHN All Headline News
Map courtesy Cal.org
At least three people have been killed and ten others injured in southern Somalia’s Gedo region after bitter combat erupted between government forces and fighters loyal to moderate Sufi group of Ahlu Sunna Walajama ASWJ against al Qaeda-linked militants.
Local residents said fighting broke out early Monday morning after al Shabaab militants launched a surprise attack on a Somali-Ahlu Sunna military convoy traveling in the village of Bohol Bashir, about 27 kilometers west of Luq town.
“Our forces are well trained and equipped and they were heading towards to Bay and Bakool region where al Shabaab right controls” Abdihakim Mohamed Fiqi, the minister of defense told state run Radio Mogadishu.
Fiqi said that the government has recently wrapped up training courses for nearly one thousands soldiers, adding that those soldiers are take control the regions of Bay and Bakool in southern Somalia.
Diyad Abdi Kalils, government military officer in Gedo region told All Headline News by phone that Monday’s fighting has inflicted on extremists with heavy and irretrievable losses.
For his part, the spokesman of al Shabaab, Sheikh Abdul-aziz Abdu Mus’ab claimed they had the upper hand during the battle.
Abu Mus’ab noted that they killed 14 soldiers of Somali government, accusing Ethiopia military forces of crossing into Somalia and direct help to the Somali forces.
In the past, the president of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said his army wass getting logistical support from Ethiopia.