Kismayo — Heavy fighting erupted Saturday afternoon in Gedo region of southwestern Somalia, when Al Shabaab militants attacked a Somali government convoy, Garowe Online reports.

Local reports say that a convoy of Somali government forces and Ethiopian troops traveling between Luuq and Garbaharey districts of Gedo region were ambushed by Shabaab militants and heavy fighting ensued.

Somali military officials told local media that 2 Somali soldiers were killed and 7 other soldiers were wounded during the fighting. The military officials vowed to remove Al Shabaab militants from districts of Gedo under the militants ' control, including Bardhere district.

Casualties inflicted upon Al Shabaab militants could not be verified.

Since August 2011, Somali government forces aided by African Union forces and Ethiopian troops retook control of key towns from Al Shabaab militants affiliated to Al Qaeda, including Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Baidoa, Jowhar, and Kismayo.