Heavy fighting between SNA and Al-Shabab in Hiraan

Heavy battle has flared up in villages in the outskirt of Beledweyne town region after Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers backed AU troops launched operations against Al-Shabaab fighters in central Somalia.

Sources said that SNA and AU troops have carried out operations to hunt down Al-Shabab fighters in Luq-Jelow and Gambarlawe villages prompting fighting between the two sides.

Residents nearby said that there was huge battle between the two sides, which lasted for some hours.

“The fighting continued for some hours in Bambarlawe village. We later heard that Al-Shabaab was ambushed by AMISOM and Somali troops,” local villager Muse Sheikh told Goobjoog News.

On the other hand Al-Shabab has not yet commented on the clashes and it causalities.

The situation is calm and things returned back to normal after the battle between government troops and Al-Shabaab subsided.

Al-Shabab, which is battling to topple the Somali federal government, has lost strongholds in southern and central Somalia, though the group still is able to launch attacks in and outside Somalia.