DIINSOR, Somalia - Army forces killed at least militants on Saturday after thwarting an ambush attack by the Al Shabaab at Diinsoor district in Bay region on Saturday, Dec 30, Garowe Online reports.

Col Hassan Moalim, a senior Somali military in the region, told GO that the militants, including a middle-ranking commander, were killed during the fight between the government forces and Al Shabaab fighters.

"Somali troops killed two extremists in an attack on military base in Diinsoor town," said Moalim, adding that government soldiers remained in control after repulsing the assault.

Residents confirmed fighting had raged on for 25 minutes and ended after the militants had left the town.

"Now Diinsoor is calm and government forces fully control it," Ali Aden, a resident of the town told GO over the phone on condition of anonymity.

Diinsoor, which is situated some 356Km northwest of the capital Mogadishu had been under Al Shabaab rule for more than 8 years before being recaptured by Somali Army and Ethiopian troops of AMISOM contingent.

Al Shabaab, the Al Qaeda-affiliated militant group carries out frequent attacks on Somali security and AMISOM forces targets, but also on civilians to topple the UN-backed Federal government.

GAROWE ONLINE