Fierce clashes erupted Tuesday between Somali National Army (SNA) forces and Al Shabaab militants near Bulo-burde town in the Hiran region.
The fighting began after SNA forces launched an operation to retake the Aborey area, 20 km from Bulo-burde, which had been captured by Al Shabaab the day before.
Following intense battle, the SNA forces entered the town, as reported by Sonna, the state-owned media based in Mogadishu.
Sonna said the military forces are continuing operations to clear militants from Aborey and nearby areas.
Similar operations are underway near Runirgood, Gulane, and El Ali Ahmed in the Middle Shabelle region.
In response, Al Shabaab claimed to have repelled the counter-offensive near Aborey, killing 14 soldiers and holding the area since Monday.
Since last month, Al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in the Middle and Lower Shabelle and Hiran regions.
Driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, the al-Qaeda-linked group continues to carry out deadly attacks.
For over a decade, the militant group has fought to impose a hardline interpretation of Sharia law in Somalia.
Al-Shabaab still controls large swaths of southern and central Somalia.
