MOGADISHU,  (Xinhua) — Somali government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers pushed Al-Shabaab fighters out of an outpost in the southern town of Hagar following “surprise attack” by the allied forces.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said in a statement that seven of the fighters were killed in a gunfight during the battle for control of the small town 50 km north of Afmadow.

“The joint forces dismantled the site during which seven Al- Shabaab militants were killed. The troops also recovered assortment of ammunition, one Suzuki escudo vehicle and several communication equipment,” AMISOM said in the statement.

Somali government forces and AMISOM soldiers have launched a new military offensive “to root out Al-Shabaab from their strongholds.” Nearly 4,300 soldiers from Ethiopia joined AMISOM after the UN Security Council last year authorized the surge to deal with the Islamist militants.

“AMISOM will continue to confront the enemies of peace and to support the people of Somalia as they strive to rebuild their nation,” said AMISOM chief Mahamat Saleh Annadif.

This comes two days after the radical group’s fighters were kicked out of Gandershe town located between the capital Mogadishu and the southern town of Marka.

Meanwhile in Mogadishu, the biggest local Telecom company, Hormuud, on Thursday disconnected the mobile internet service to its clients following a ban imposed by Al-Shabaab who said the service was used to spy on Somalis.

Somali government officials had warned companies against complying with the group’s edicts. The authorities have not commented on the closure of the mobile internet service, which is widely used by residents.

The order to close the mobile internet service has not affected telecom companies in the northern Somali regions of Puntland and Somaliland.

Source: Shanghai Daily