At least one Al-Shabaab commander was killed and another captured during heavy fighting between the militants and Somali National Army (SNA) in Hudur town, the capital of Bakool region of southwest Somalia on Saturday.

Somali government's army commander in Bakool region Aden Mohamed Ahmed said SNA carried out security operations in several villages in the region that targeted Al-Shabaab militants.

"The key operation occurred at Yab-yab village, 27 kilometers east of Hudur town, we killed one Al-Shabaab commander who is identified as Hassan Isak Nor and captured another commander who was head of tax collection. We are questioning him at the moment. There was resistance, but no casualties on our side," Ahmed said.

He added that residents took a lion's share in the latest operation against Al-Shabaab and contributed useful information that led to this successful operation.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union peacekeeping troops have stepped up security operations against Al-Shabaab in the south and central Somalia this year.

Source: XINHUA