Somalia: Govt troops and Al shabaab clash near Beledweyne city

Somali troops repulsed Al shabaab after heavily armed militants ambushed their military convoy of vehicles in the outskirts of Beledweyne, Hiiraan regional capital, army officials said Friday.

Confirming the incident, Col Mohamed Omar Aden, a top military commander in charge of the area said that the deadly clashes flared up in transmit locations near Beledweyne town in the early hours on Friday.

Mr Aden added that Govt Soldiers have killed several militants in the counter-attack in which he claimed inflicting losses on Al shabaab attackers.

“No casualties on our side. The ambush attack was warded off by SNA. Al shabaab lost a number of combatants in the confrontation,” said the army office while speaking on the phone with Radio Shabelle.

Al shabaab did not comment on the attack and the claim of the military.