MOGADISHU, July 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - At least five people were killed after fierce fighting broke out on Tuesday between the Somali army and forces loyal to the semi-autonomous southern Jubaland region, a security official said.

Somalia is a federation of five semi-autonomous member states -- Puntland, Jubaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and South West -- and a central government in the capital.

Clashes erupted in Beled Hawo town, in the country's southern Gedo region, an area long entangled in political tension with Mogadishu.

Yusuf Ahmed, a commander with the Jubaland security forces, told AFP that the fighting started when the Somali army launched an offensive attempting to "take full control of the town".

"I can confirm that we have lost two soldiers, and I saw the dead bodies of three members of the attackers who died near the district administration headquarters," Ahmed said.

"Jubaland security forces contained these attackers," he added.

Gedo governor Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi said the attack began shortly after the arrival of Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur -- formerly Jubaland security minister, now intelligence chief of the region -- in a military helicopter.

"They did not achieve their objective," said Al-Qadi, who was nominated by the Jubaland government.

He added that federal government forces had been removed from administrative buildings.

A resident said there was sporadic gunfire near the military base where the federal forces had retreated.

In a statement, the government blamed Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe, accusing him of orchestrating Tuesday's attack and calling it a "criminal act".

It said it was "part of the ongoing violations which Ahmed Madobe commits", and had targeted immigration offices.

Ongoing tensions between Jubaland and Somalia's federal government escalated last year when Madobe, a former warlord, defied pressure and held a unilateral regional election, securing a third term in office.

Mogadishu labelled his re-election "unlawful".