ELWAK – Heavily armed from Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab fighters took control of Elwak town in west of Somalia’s Gedo region.
The group’s fighters armed with machine guns and RPGs launched ambush attacks on army bases in the town, clashing with government soldiers.
The fighters moved into army bases when government forces withdrew from the town, a witness, who asked to be anonymous because of reprisal attack on his life said.
Somali-based group of Al Shabaab claimed to have taken full control of the town, lecturing to the local residents earlier on Saturday morning.
No deaths and injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, Somali army forces, along with Kenyan troops under serving African Union troops in Somalia have launched an operation that saw the re-capture of the town.
The coalition forces returned to the town, shortly after the armed group’s fighters retreated from the town.
No word was available from Somali army officials over the briefly seizure of Elwak town near Kenyan border.
