Balad-Hawo — A senior official in Al shabab militants on Sunday has claimed a major victory over a battle against Somali forces in Balad-Hawo town, Gedo province.

Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Musab, the spokesman of Al shabab for the military operations said that his fighters stormed military bases inside the city on Saturday afternoon, seizing a wide-range of weapons--light and heavy, including AK47 rifle assaults during their ambush attack from Somali forces.

"We launched a pre-planed attack on Somali forces in Balad-Hawo late on Saturday at about 5 pm. During the battle we managed to take over briefly the overall control of the city and withdrew for military tactics," Abu Musab said.

For his part, Diyad Abdi Kalil, Somali army officials said they have inflicted heavy and irreversible losses upon the Al shabab in the fighting.

Mr.kalil said the attack was fended off and at least 13 fighters were killed by government forces. He underlined that the town is under their control.

The latest reports from the city indicated on Sunday that the situations has returned into normal as the public movement and transportation are up and running.