HirShabelle regional forces on Saturday were engaged in a heavy gunfight with Al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia
The heavy fighting broke out after armed fighters belonging to the Al-Qaeda (AQ) linked Al-Shabaab ambushed the regional forces while traveling between Jowhar and Beledweyne towns of central Somalia.
The regional forces had left Jowhar, the current seat of HirShabelle administration early on Saturday morning and were en route to Jalalaqsi district at the time of the attack.
According to a senior HirShabelle state official the ambush was successfully repulsed with unconfirmed number of casualties being reported from both sides.
