MOGADISHU (SD) – At least twenty people have been killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in Al-Shabaab clashes with Somali military in central Somalia region.

According to witnesses, heavily armed al-Shabaab militants have stormed a military base in Wisil town, Galmudug state.

The militants reportedly detonated a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at the gate of the base, paving the way hundreds of fighters to attack the base from different directions.

Military official who spoke to the state-owned media said the government forces managed to repulse the militants.

In a statement posted on its affiliate media, al-Shabaab claimed to have killed more than 34 soldiers in the attack.

Wisil is a small town located in northwest of the port town of Hobyo town.

Somali military has been recently carrying out operations against al-Shabaab in central and southern Somalia.

Since last month, over 200 al-Shabaab militants were killed in clashes with Somali forces, according to military officials.

Somali military backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) had for the past decade liberated dozens of towns including Somali capital following heavy clashes with al-Shabaab fighters.

Al-Shabaab lost control of Mogadishu in 2011 after days long fierce fighting with Somali and Amisom forces.