The rebel fighters from Al-Shabaab
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
launched their attacks on the town of Belad-Hawo town in southwestern Somalia province of Gedo, which is controlled by Somali troops.
The radical group of Al-Shabaab took over the town following fierce battles with army who were forced out of the town, but government troops regrouped and launched a counter- attack on the hard boyz in the strategic town of Belad-Hawo on the key road linking to the border zone with Kenya.
"We managed to push them (Al-Shabaab fighters) back. We are now in hot pursuit of them,"Diyad Abdikalil, military commander of Somali forces in Gedo, told Shabelle Media by phone from the town, adding that they have killed at least 13 Al shabab combatants during the raid.
Witnesses said the fighting has been heavy with both sides exchanging artillery and machine guns.