)
At least 10 people have been killed and more than 13 others wounded after heavy fighting broke out near Luuq district in Gedo region of south western Somalia on Wednesday afternoon, according to witnesses.
The fighting comes after al-Shabaab fighters launched an offensive against bases of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamma (ASWJ) militia in the suburban of Luuq district, residents said.
Both sides used heavy shelling forcing residents to flee, according to Ahmed Abdullahi, a pastoralist living near the area.
“The battle broke out around 4:45pm local time and caused lots of damage. Many people were injured from both sides and taken to Luq and Garbaharey districts of Gedo region. The locals have started to flee the shelling," he told Somalia Report.
Ahmed Abdullahi Hussein, a TFG commander in Luuq district who spoke with Somalia Report and said that al-Shabaab fighters launched the attack, but the government soldiers and ASWJ fighters repelled them.
ASWJ’s secretary of defense in Gedo region, Ishaaq Mohamed Gees Dheere, also confirmed that the government and ASWJ forces successfully defended themselves against the al-Shabaab attack.
"Many fighters from the insurgents were killed and we captured others," the secretary told Somalia Report.
Both government and ASWJ officials insisted that they will not stop the fighting against al-Shabaab until they reach and secure Bay, Bakool, and Middle Shabelle regions in the south western Somalia.
Although the situation is calm, residents and pastoralists fear another battle will break out between al-Shabaab and the government fighters in the area.
Explosion in Belet Hawo
Meanwhile an explosion rocked a TFG base in Belet Hawo district of Gedo and injured two soldiers, according to witnesses.
The government forces, which control the area with the ASWJ, began an investigation into the attack.