Five die as Somalia’s elite forces and Al-Shabab clash in Lower Shabelle

At least five people from both sides have been killed after heavy fighting between Somalia’s elite forces and Al-Shabab fighters in Sabib and Aanoole localities on Monday morning.

A section of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) commonly known as Alpha group attacked an areas captured by Al-Shabab fighters.
Al-Shabab fighters on Sunday afternoon took control of villages near Mareerey, according to Governor Lower Shabelle region, Abdikadir Sidii.

He said the fighters ambushed Marerey, Sabib and Anoole, a small villages outside Afgooye town but were foiled by the security forces.

“National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) reinforcement made possible to foil the terrorist attack. We have now a number of the fighters in jail,” said Sidii.

Meanwhile the spokesman of interior ministry Mohamed Yussuf said that NISA soldiers carried out operations to annihilate Al-Shabab fighters from areas in Lower Shabelle region.

“The Anti-Peace group Al-Shabab fighters yesterday attacked Mareeray and Sabiib localities at same time but our soldiers in those areas resisted and we sent in many soldiers to those areas which made possible to drive away the fighters. The soldiers will move ahead to remaining areas,” Yussuf said.

Al-Shabab fighters on Sunday afternoon took control of villages near Mareerey, according to local sources but were repulsed by the security forces.

In a propaganda website, Al-Shabaab claimed its fighters overran Government military bases in those localities.

Somali government seized the localities a years ago but reinforced Al-Shabab fighters carried out deadly attacks and recaptured them

The situation is calm and things returned back to normal after the battle between NISA troops and Al-Shabab fighters subsided.