Somali National Army (SNA) killed 14 al-Shabab fighters and injured 15 others in a fierce confrontation on Friday in the central region of Gal Gadud, the military chief said on Saturday.

Odawa Yusuf Rage, SNA commander said government forces launched an attack targeting al-Shabab hideouts and inflicted casualties on the militants.

"We have killed 14 al-Shabab fighters and injured 15 others during intense clashes with the militants," Rage said.

He added that the army also recovered weapons and ammunition from the militants.

Locals told Xinhua there was an intense fight between government forces and al-Shabab militants.

Somalia’s southern and central regions have witnessed clashes between government forces and al-Shabab extremists since the militants were chased out of the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 by Somali army and African Union forces.