10 have been killed and 18 others injured after overnight fighting between al-Shabaab insurgents and Somali Transitional Federal Government troops (TFG) allied with Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) took place in Delbiyow village near Tabta in the southern region of Lower Juba.

The fighting began when al-Shabaab fighters launched a concerted attack against recently established KDF and TFG military positions in Delbiyow late on Sunday.

According to reliable sources in Delbiyow more than seven al-Shabaab militants were killed and unknown number were injured during the battle.

Somali transitional federal government troops (TFG) and Kenya forces seized the village completely and conducted security operations in the surrounding area after the fighting, according to Ibrahim Hassan, a Delbiyow resident.

Following the fighting, sources reported to have seen al-Shabaab militants crossing the border of Delbiyow heading towards Kismayo, the stronghold of al-Shabaab in Southern Somalia.

TFG officials in Lower Juba region have confirmed the seizure of Delbiyow and existence of overnight clashes, but they did not comment on the casualties.

“We are doing military operations. The only thing that I can say is ‘we are in Delbiyow,'” a government officer speaking on the condition of anonymity told Somalia Report.

Al-Shabaab group is under increasing military pressure from KDF, TFG, and Ethiopian forces, and have been losing ground in southern Somalia.

Source: Somali Report