The clashes erupted around Bibi village in the outskirts of Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region.

There were no reliable reports on casualties, but local sources said Al Shabaab guerrillas carried out attacks on Hizbul Islam fighters based in the area, leading to heavy gun battle.

Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, Al-Shabaab’s spokesman in Kismayo confirmed that his forces carried out attacks on their rivals after learning that they are regrouping in the village to launch attack on the Islamic administration in the region.

“The fighters attacked the enemies, inflicting them heavy casualties while seizing several weapons. Our forces have also taken over the base,” he told reporters in Kismayo.

The two groups, which have large presences in southern Somali regions, have been engaged in deadly warfare that is threatening the stability of the regions.

Relation between the two groups has disintegrated after Al-Shabaab unilaterally formed a new administration for the port town recently, a move that did not went down well with Hizbul Islam- a coalition of three militant groups.

Early October, they were involved in deadly clashes over the control of Kismayo, in which dozens of people mostly combatants were killed and hundreds of families were displaced.