Somali forces kill 2 Al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia: official

Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed two Al-Shabaab militants and wounded three others in a clash in Hiiraan region of central Somalia, a military official said.

Colonel Mohamed Omar Abdullle told journalists that heavy fighting ensued following an ambush by Somali forces on Al-Shabaab base in El Ali village Saturday evening resulting in the casualties.

"Our troops fought hard and killed two militants and injured three others. We launched ambush on the group in El Ali village Saturday evening," said Abdulle.

Abdulle noted his soldiers did not suffer any casualties. Al-Shabaab has not commented on the development.

The ambush comes a week after Pentagon said its special forces killed 150 Al-Shabaab militants in the Hiiraan region following a drone attack.

The militants have been facing a major onslaught from the American special forces and Africa Union peacekeeping forces backed by the SNA in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, the military court has on Saturday sentenced to death five of seven Al-Shabaab suspects who were accused of being behind the latest attack in Baidoa town in southern region where over 30 people killed in twin attacks early this month.

Prosecutors said the court heard the case for about a week after providing the court with relevant issues relating to their involvement and evidence.

"Five of the suspects were sentenced to death penalties, one was sentenced to three years of prison and the other one was released after he was not found guilty," Chairperson of the Somali Court, Ali Hassan Shute said.

Shute said the military court will take action against all perpetrators and bring them before justice. Enditem