Somalia: Pro-ISIL militants, Al Shabaab clash in deadly Puntland infighting

ISKUSHUBAN, Somalia, December 24, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Heavy fighting between Pro-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters and Al Shabaab militants has raged in Bari region village of Timirshe of northeastern Somalia according to residents, Garowe Online reports.

Heavily armed Al Shabaab militants on Thursday tracked a group of fighters loyal to former ideologue Abdulkadir Mumin, subsequently engaging in fierce gun battle that resulted in unknown casualties.

Timirshe is agricultural village that lies a few kilometers away from Iskushuban, a town just 150 south of Bossaso port city.

Gunfire was ringing out around the village as of Thursday afternoon, residents said by phone from Timirshe.

Abdulkadir Mumin whom more than two dozen militants accepted his loyalty to self-proclaimed ISIL caliph, abu-Bakr Al Baghdadi has been on-the-run since late October when a long running merger crisis furthered with Mumin’s defection.

Garowe Online has learned that Mumin had since been expecting arms consignment by Yemeni Daesh due to mounting Al Shabaab pressure.

Officials tell GO that no go ahead has been given to Puntland Defence Forces (PDFs) for subdueing Timirshe infighting.

Somali militant group is languishing in damaging dissension which in recent weeks degenerated into open confrontations over whether to switch allegiance to ISIL.

GAROWE ONLINE