Two soldiers, 7 militants killed in attack on military base in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A military official says at least seven militants and two soldiers died in heavy fighting between Al-Shabab and the country's armed forces in the south-west of Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking to Garowe Online over the phone, Osman Abdi, the commander of the Somali army unit in Gedo province said the battle came after extremists tried to infiltrate a military base in the regional capital, Garbaharey Thursday night.

The skirmish which lasted for nearly three consecutive hours claimed the lives of two soldiers and five others sustained injuries, Abdi added. Residents say they've been left disgusted and terrified after the attack on SNA - Somali National Army.

The assault comes as Somali forces with the support of African Union and American soldiers have intensified operations on al-Shabab in central and southern Somalia, to flush the militants out of the remaining pockets.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group fighting to overthrow the United Nations-backed Somali government in Mogadishu, is known to increase attacks during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

GAROWE ONLINE