MOGADISHU, Somalia — At least five soldiers were killed and four others wounded on Saturday in a fierce battle near Afgooye in Lower Shabelle region, about 30km south of the capital, Mogadishu, officials said.
The fighting erupted after al‑Shabab forces attacked a military post in Omar Beere area, triggering an intense clash between the militants and Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers. Local officials reported heavy casualties among both sides.
Authorities said several militants were also killed in the skirmish. The bodies of several fighters were found at the scene, raising the death toll for the group.
Residents in the area reported hearing sustained gunfire toward Afgooye town. The security situation remained volatile, with fear spreading among locals who are staying indoors.
SNA forces maintain positions in the area and have launched operations to pursue the militants believed to have carried out the attack and infiltrated the region.
The raid came amid a broader push by SNA forces to reclaim territory from al‑Shabab. In recent days they have conducted liberation operations in several districts of Lower and Middle Shabelle.
Last week, SNA troops captured Awdhegle town from the militant group. Forces also retook Bariire, Sabid, and Anole following coordinated operations with the African Union peacekeepers.
Al-Shabab continues to carry out deadly attacks on army bases, despite air and ground operations in south and central Somalia.
For the last four months, the militant group seized several towns following pre-dawn attacks that began with suicide explosions, followed by gun battles.
Al-Shabab still holds large swaths of rural territory, including the Middle Jubba region, where its top leaders have been based since being driven out of Mogadishu in 2011.