Five Al-Shabaab fighters killed in air raid in Lower Shabelle region

Unspecified helicopter gunships struck training camps used by Al-Shabaab fighters killing five in Somalia’s southern Lower Shabelle region on Friday,  locals said.

Residents said the planes pounded a training camp used by the militant group which also hosts some offices in the outskirt of Qoryooley town

“After the air raid, foreign troops backed by Somali commandos units swooped into Dugulle area, about 48Km away from the southern town of Qoryoley,” sources said.

A resident said the aircraft attacked Al-Shabaab camps on the outskirts of the town of the town, with explosions and gunfire lasting about an hour.

“The helicopters hit bases in the vicinity which falls under Al-Shabaab fighters,” he said.

The allied troops were reportedly encountered a resistance as they engaged in a fierce gunfight with the Al Qaeda-linked Al shabaab fighters in the area.

Al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman admitted the attack saying the two helicopters landed on Dugulle village and commandos from the aircraft advanced on the base.

This operation is in line with recent air strikes on Al-Shabaab by air planes of US and its allied countries to back up ground troops of African Union and Somali government in Al-Shabaab controlled areas.