The government asserted on Tuesday that Somalia security forces killed 14 Al-Shabaab militants after they thwarted an insurgents attack by the terrorist group in Bariire town in Southern region.
The ministry of information said the insurgents were killed on Monday night during a ferocious fighting between the Somalia National Army (SNA) and the militants in Lower Shabelle province.
The ministry said the insurgents were killed when SNA successfully repelled an attempted attack by terrorist infiltration into Bariire town in Lower Shabelle province.
Al-Shabaab, which governs large parts of rural Southern and Central Somalia, continues to carry out high-profile assaults in Mogadishu and elsewhere, aiming bases manned by AU and Somalia security forces.
Al-Shabab forces have been fighting to subvert the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.