Mogadishu, Sep 11 (Xinhua/UNI) Eight al-Shabab fighters were killed on Tuesday night during a fierce counter offensive with Somali government forces in Garbaharey town in the southern region of Gedo, a military official said on Wednesday.
Osman Abdi Qorah from Somali National Army (SNA)'s unit 10 told journalists that members of al-Shabab extremists launched an attack on a base used by Somali army in Garbaharey, but the forces repulsed them foiling their attempt to overrun the base.
"There was a fierce fight that lasted for hours, but our forces defeated the militants killing 8 of them, including their commander in the area named Mohamed Dhere,"the military official said.
Qorah confirmed that a government soldier was injuried during the fight. Locals reported a fierce fight broke out in the town.
"Government forces were attacked by militants and they fought for a while but the situation returned normal now,"Sadiyo Aare, a resident told Xinhua by phone.
On Sept 2, Somali military killed nine al-Shabab militants in an area between Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.
Government forces are on major operations to root al-Shabab extremists out of southern regions, but the militants still hold swathes in rural areas conducting ambushes and planting land mines.
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