The assault happened in Makuuda area near the town, after Al Shabaab militants launched a surprise attack on military base, killing 3 soldiers, a policeman said.Mohamed Hussein Mohamed says the military forces had lost 3 soldiers in the ambush by Al Shabaab.He said the forces repulsed the orchestrated assault launched by Al Qaeda inspired Al Shabaab group.

The group’s fighters reportedly seized weapons during the raid, according a security sources, who asked to be anonymous.Meanwhile, two soldiers were killed and 3 others sustained injuries, when Al Shabaab militants carried out another surprise attack on government soldiers on board while heading to Baidoa town.The group has been waging insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

However, Al-Shabaab, which once controlled much of Somali capital Mogadishu in 2011, wants topple the weak-western backed government of Somalia.