Odawa Yusuf Rage, commander of SNA told journalists that the clashes started after government forces got intelligence of the militants' presence in the area and conducted operations.

"Our forces inflicted severe casualties on the militants, killing 37 of them, including the militants' leader in Hudur area," Rage said, adding that the army also recovered weapons from the militants.

Locals said there was an intense fight in Abal village in the outskirts of Hudur town which caused casualties from the warring sides and the residents.

On May 27, Somali forces backed by the Southwestern State army killed six al-Shabab extremists in another operation in Dinsor town in the southern region of Bay.

Government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab extremists in the southern regions, but the militants still hold swathes of rural areas in those regions conducting ambushes and planting land mines.