Luq — Heavy fighting with shells between Somali government troops backing by Ethiopian forces and Al-shabab militants has resumed again in parts of some regions of southwestern Somalia, residents said on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses told Shabelle Media that the battle erupted this morning after some Al-shabab fighters have launched a surprise attack on military bases belonging to TFG and Ethiopian forces at a small village situates between the town of Bardala and Luq in Bay and Gedo regions of southwestern Somalia.

It was immediately unclear whether there are casualties in the combat, but locals say the situation is tense and both sides are using heavy and slight weapons that sparked residents fear and anxiety. This fighting is the fiercest that these two regions have seen in weeks.