Three killed in fighting between SNA and Al-Shabab in Middle Shabelle, official confirms

Three people including Somali soldiers and suspected Al-Shabab fighters have been killed in firefight at El-Baraf village, about 45 km west of Mahaday town in Middle Shabelle region, a government official has said.

The fighting broke out after Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers backed troops from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) attacked Al-Shabaab base prompting hours of fighting.

Kadar Mohamed Abdi, local administrator said the fighting took place on Monday morning  in the outskirt of Mahaday town where the group had training camps.

“The attack was successful as planned. During the firefight, two  Al-Shabab fighters were neutralized. Several others fled with injuries towards the forest and hot pursuit is currently under way,” he said.

Mentioning the casualties on allied forces, Abdi said one soldier was killed during the fighting.

Abdi added the operation to annihilate the fighters will continue until the insurgents are eliminated from the whole region.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union Peacekeeping forces removed Al-Shabab from many key towns in central Somalia in the past two years.

However the group occasionally carries out attacks at government installations and high end hotels in Mogadishu.