MOGADISHU (SD) – Heavily armed al-Shabaab fighters on Friday evening captured a strategic town, Mahadey, about 118 km north of Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

In a statement posted on its affiliate online media, al-Shabaab claimed to have taken control of  the town following fierce gun battle with Somali military.

Locals told the media that they heard massive gunfire in the town, confirming al-Shabaab’s presence in the town.

Somali forces who retreated were reportedly stationed in the outskirts of the town.

Somali government has not yet commented on the latest attack on its forces in the region.

Mahaday is a small agricultural town 27 kilometers from Jowhar, the administrative capital of Hirshabelle state.

Meanwhile, Somali forces Monday morning detonated Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive (VBIED) in Torotorow town of Lower Shabelle region during an operation to hunt down al-Shabaab militants.

Military officials told the media that the forces succeeded to foil car bomb attack.
Recent months, Somali military backed by AMISOM troops have intensified operations against al-Shabaab fighters in southern and central Somalia.