Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday.
Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces.
Raids were launched by al-Shabab fighters before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted by the Anadolu news agency.
However, Captain Hussein Olow, a military officer in Adan Yabaal, told Reuters that the government troops pushed the al-Shabab fighters back.
Speaking to the AFP news agency, Somali captain Mohamed Ali said,
“The terrorist militants launched a desperate attack on the Somali army positions in the Adan Yabaal district this morning.”
He continued,
“There was heavy fighting still going on in some parts of the town.”
Currently, there are no reports of casualties.