Administration of El-Ali locality Claims Victory in Battle With Al Shabaab in Hiiraan

The administration El-Ali locality has claimed victory in a fierce gun battle with Al Shabaab militants near the village in the country’s central Hiiraan region.

Reports say that the attack began with heavy artillery and mortar fire by Al-Shabaab fighters.

The residents say the sound of heavy artillery used by both sides was heard all over the two localities and their environs.

The combat erupted when Al Shabaab fighters SNA military base in the area, according to El-Ali chief, Yarow Omar Abiikar.

Yarow has confirmed the combat, saying they have inflicted losses on the militants during the fighting at the village.

“Al-Shabab thought the military as a soft target but they were slapped hard, the soldiers killed over twenty of them and left with several injuries. The side SNA there are several wounded soldiers but suffered no death” he said.

He added that government will keep on fighting till Al-Shabaab and their sympathizers are annihilated.
“Our soldiers are ready to weed out Al-Shabaab fighter from these areas,” he noted.

Fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters at military bases in Hiraan region on Tuesday night has claimed lives over ten people including both sides, according to reliable sources.

Al-Shabab fighters who want to topple internationally recognized Somali government, have sped up their attacks on SNA and AMISOM military bases in different parts of the country.