Heavy fighting broke out late on Friday in Gedo and Lower Juba regions as the allied forces from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) and the pro-government militias of Wal-jamaca (ASWJ) and Ras Kamboni fighters battled with the militant group al-Shabaab.
According to local residents, the first round of the attacks occurred in Dhamase village of Gedo region when the Islamist group ambushed KDF and TFG forces traversing the region.
The al-Shabaab fighters claimed victory over the attacks.
“We attacked the enemy near Dhamase, the Mujahedeen killed more than seven fighters from the enemy, including Kenyan infidels and we captured one Kenyan military vehicle, three PKM guns and other military equipment,” Sheikh Abad Abdulahi, al-Shabaab chairman in Gedo region told Somalia Report on Saturday.
“We forced the enemy to run away, and we will keep fighting against them till we liberate the entire country from the allied forces of Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Uganda and western countries,” he added.
But Kenyan and TFG officials were not immediately available for comment.