Somali Military are seen in Sanguni village, southern Somali, June 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)
Somali government forces repelled an attack by al-Shabab militants against a military base in the southern region of Lower Shabelle. Seven al-Shabab militants were killed while four government soldiers were injuried in fierce fighting.
MOGADISHU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Seven al-Shabab militants were killed on Wednesday in a fierce fighting with Somali government forces in the southern region of Lower Shabelle.
A senior officer, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that the fighting erupted after the militants attacked their military base in the newly-recovered Awdheegle town in Lower Shabelle region.
"The militants drove near the military base and detonated car bombs and shortly a fierce battle erupted. We killed seven militants and injured 10 others," the officer said.
Four soldiers sustained injuries during the attack which came barely a week after Somali forces captured the strategic town of Awdheegle, which had been under the control of al-Shabab.
Independent sources said a journalist working for the Somali army radio died in the attack, which Xinhua could not verify.
Residents said there was heavy gunfire in the early hours of Wednesday.
"First we heard a huge blast following by sounds of mortar shells," said one of the residents.
"The al-Shabab militants used four vehicles loaded with explosives and drove to the military base. There were casualties," Jibril Ga'al, a resident, told Xinhua.
The al-Qaida allied group said 10 government soldiers were killed during the battle.
The militant group has reportedly deployed hundreds of its troops to Lower Shabelle region after losing control of Bariire, Sabiid, Canoole and Awdheegle town this year.
