The attack which started with explosions believed to be suicide attacks inflicted heavy casualties on the Somali terror group Al-Shabab with the Somali army killing at least 18 according to SNA officials as quoted by SONNA, while the Somali militant group claimed to have seized the town.

According to SNA Commander, Ahmed Mohamed Teredisho who spoke with the state media said the Al-Shabaab militants attacked the SNA and local forces’ base in the town, but the forces thwarted terrorists’ attack and pushed them.

Local media reported Al-Shabab killed at least 8 people among elders and army members.  Some reports suggest local elders who supported government forces and the anti-al-Shabaab mobilisation may have been target of the attack on Masagaway.  Somali forces captured Masagaway, south of El-Dher, from al-Shabaab in early January.

The operation followshours after the National Intelligence and Security Agency said that it killed over 20 Al-Shabaab militants and injured others in between Ugunji and Mubarak location in lower Shabelle region.

- Horn Observer