“There were intense clashes, which lasted for several hours, but our forces finally overpowered the militants, killing 16 of them and injured 20 others. The army forced the militants out of the town and are pursuing their remnants who fled into the forest," Malin said.

According to the local residents, al-Shabab members wanted to set up new bases in Shabellow village but the villagers withstood them.

Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (Movement of Striving Youth), more commonly known as al-Shabaab, is an Islamic group based in East Africa.

In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the organization Al-Qaeda.

Al-Shabaab's troop strength was estimated at 7,000 to 9,000 militants in 2014.

As of 2015, the group has retreated from the major cities; however, al-Shabaab still controls large parts of the rural areas. (ILKHA)