Somalia: Al-Shabaab militants capture four townships in southern Somalia
Al-Shabaab militants briefly captured four townships in the southern Somali region of Shabelle after a fierce battle that killed dozens, before being repulsed by government forces, witnesses and officials said.
Awdhegle and Mubarak were among the towns captured after the militants overran the Somali army. According to Awdhegle residents, the fighting began this morning when heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters attacked Somali government positions in the city, triggering a three-hour gunfight.
Sharif Bin Ali, an Awdhegle inhabitant, told Bloomberg by phone that “the militants attacked two major entry points to the city in the early hours of Saturday morning just after the first morning prayers.” He said 15 were dead, mostly government troops.