Reports indicate that the dead are mostly civilians who were caught in the fighting.
Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Mus'ab, al-Shabaab's military spokesman, told Somalia Report that their militia attacked both villages after it became apparent to them that ASWJ were regrouping and were planning to attack, despite recent reports of a split among ASWJ leadership.
“We knew they were coming to attack us. We did the right thing, to attack first,” he said. "Three of our brave Mujahidin were martyred in the fight. We also know that we have killed many of their fighters as well," he added.
Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Mus'ab said that al-Shabaab fighters chased away ASWJ from Yayale village. Residents of Yayale also told Somalia Report that they spotted ASWJ fighters heading towards Guri'el district, however we cannot verify this claim.
Residents told Somalia Report that both sides used heavy artillery and mortars that spared no one including civilians.
However, ASWJ's deputy commissioner of Guri-el, Abdi Bashi Adan Diriye, told reporters that al-Shabaab ambushed their fighters and ASWJ resisted and pushed them back.
Mr. Diriye claimed his troops are in control of both villages and refused to discuss the casualties, but vowed they will not surrender and will eventually push al-Shabaab back.
The number of casualties is expected to rise according to medical staff in Guri-el district where the injured were taken to receive medical attention.
This comes after both sides fought fierce fighting in Dhagaxale village on Thursday and reports from central Somalia say that the situation is very tense in the area.
More Fighting in Galgadud
Meanwhile, two civilians were killed and another was wounded after forces from Ximan and Xeeb administration and unknown armed men exchanged fire in Adado district of Galgadud early Friday morning.
A local journalist in Dhusamareb told Somalia Report that the firefight comes after one of the armed men opened fire on the administration forces in Adado and a 20-minute firefight ensued. The Ximan and Xeeb administration has not yet released any statement concerning the incident.
Mogadishu Fighting
At least 10 people were killed, including soldiers from both sides, and more than 6 others were wounded after Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops backed by African Union (AMISOM) forces attacked al-shabaab bases in Hodon district in Mogadishu on Friday.
"TFG troops and AMISOM soldiers were seen here this morning. Yes, al-Shabaab moved here to part of Hodon. We heard sounds of mortars," Omar Ibrahim Hodon, a local resident, told Somalia Report.
Other sources confirmed that late Friday AMISOM offensives destroyed militant camps in Hodon and that they also reached position near Bakara where al-Shabaab sent reinforcements yesterday.
Yunis Ali Japan, ASWJ security commander in Banadir region, told reporters that AMISOM, TFG and ASWJ forces, working together, seized new stations in Hodon. "We will continue attacks just we seized new main positions in Hodon also we captured some of militants," the officer said.