​Somalia: Six al-Shabaab fighters killed in battle with AMISOM forces

MARKA, Somalia- At least six al-Shabaab fighters were reported died during a fierce gun battle with the African Union peacekeeping troops on Tuesday in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

The gunfight flared up after al-Shabaab fighters armed with machine guns, and rocked propelled grenades attacked AU forces stationed at a military base in Alyasir area located near Km-50 district.

Local officials and residents have revealed that a number of soldiers from AMISOM peacekeepers also sustained injuries during the combat with the Al-Qaida-linked militants.

AMISOM soldiers managed to repel the attack, and drove away the militants from their base. Dead bodies of several militants were discovered in the area in the morning following the deadly fighting.

The militant group al-Shabaab has claimed victory over the battle, according to its military operations spokesman Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Musab, who said they killed over ten AMISOM soldiers, and destroyed military battle wagons.

In a separate incident, suspected Al Shabaab assassins shot dead a government soldier in Hawo Tako neighborhood in Mogadishu's Wadajir district. The assailants escaped the scene before the arrival of Police authorities. 

Somali security forces sealed off the crime scene, and afterward launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Somalia is battling to drive out al-Shabaab group from large areas in central and southern Somalia, as the militant groups vowed to continue the fight against the new administration and intensified attacks in the Somali capital of Mogadishu in the past months.

GAROWEONLINE