Somali forces repel Al-Shabaab attack on Afgooye

 

Al-Shabaab on Thursday night raided a key Somali town Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu but were repulsed after fierce fighting, a senior military official has confirmed.

Mohamed Mursal, a military officer said that heavy fighting took place in the agricultural tow town, Afgooye in Lower Sheblle.

“The fighting broke out after Al-Shabaab attempted to capture the town by battle, but our forces managed to push them,” Mursal said.

Local residents said there was a heavy exchange of fire which lasted for some hours.

“We heard the sound of heavy gunfire, we were unable to get outside, because it was at night,” one of the resident said.

However, Al-Shabaab also claimed victory over the latest clashes with Somali government, saying they killed three government soldiers.

” Our mujahideen fighters briefly captured Afgooye town where they killed number infidels,” Al-Shabaab spokesman, Abdulaziz Mus’ab told pro-Al-Shabaab radio.

The group is carrying out hit and run attacks in major towns under government and deadly explosions in the capital Mogadishu.