Al-Shabaab fighters armed with machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked two towns in Somalia's Lower Shabelle region, culminating in the capture of the two neighboring districts of Awdhegle and Mubarak, witnesses and the army said.

"It was shortly before dawn this morning when Al-Shabaab fighters attacked checkpoints in the town manned by Somali forces," Da’ud Qaylow, a resident of Awdhegle, said by phone.

Ali Sharif, an officer with the Somali army, said the rebel forces attacked their positions in Awdhegle when most army forces were asleep. "Within a short period of time, the militants managed to corner us and finally captured the whole town when our forces ran for their lives," Sharif said.

The fighting spread to nearby Mubarak, where the rebels also overran the army, he said.

Hassan Mohamed, another officer with the army, said the militants beheaded three injured soldiers who were unable to flee.