Four aid workers from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) who were taken hostages from Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp last Friday have been rescued unharmed inside Somalia, witnesses and government military commanders have confirmed.

"We are thankful to know that our four colleagues have been found and safely returned to Kenya. This is a day of relief for us and for the families of the abducted," says Elisabeth Rasmusson, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council in statement.

NRC identified the four as Steven Dennis, 37, Astrid Sehl, 33, Glenn Costes, 40 and Qurat-Ul-Ain Sadazai, 38, as previously reported by Somalia Report.

"We are happy to be alive, we are happy this has ended," Sadazai told AFP.

Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Forces, Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) and Ras Kamboni, a pro government militia, sources have confirmed to Somalia Report that the hostages were rescued in an operation.

TFG army commander in Lower Jubba region, General Ismail Sahardiid, told Somalia Report that they successfully rescued the hostages from kidnappers in Ali Guray village, around 40km north west of Dhobley, a town near the Kenyan Border. He said that they captured three of the kidnappers were taken alive but that a fourth had been killed during the operation.

The commander said that the hostages are in good health and are currently in Dhobley General hospital, but will be transferred to Nairobi in order to reunite them with their co-workers and families in the coming hours. He added that the forces acted on a tip off that the kidnappers had car-jacked a vehicle to take the hostages into the Kismayo, one of al-Shabaab's strongholds.

The Ras Kamboni commander said his forces were responsible for the rescue.

"After we confirmed the workers were there, our forces raided the site called Alibuley early in this morning and killed one of the kidnappers and freed the hostages, ending their ordeal,” senior Raskamobi official, Abdinasir Seerar told Somalia Report on Monday.

The Kenyan Defence Forces also confirmed that the NRC hostages were rescued inside Somalia. Colonel Cyrus Oguna, KDF spokesman, said the hostages are all in good health and in the care of KDF forces.

Last Friday unidentified gunmen entered the highly populated Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya. They shot and killed a Kenyan driver and injured two others and in the course of abducting the NRC aid workers from the camp.

A local resident told Somalia Report residents were shocked to see white hostages in their town over the weekend.

“Yesterday (June 30) local residents of Alibuly (30km north east of Doobley) saw four white people whose mouths had been wrapped with pieces of cloth and their hands tied together. Previously when such incidences were seen by the residents it wasn’t a big deal but this one was a special one as those who witnessed it were astonished to see white people under the al-Shabaab’s claws,” said Mr Abdille, a former miraa sales man in territory.

Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is gaining momentum against the insurgent al-Shabaab militias, particularly after capturing Baidoa in central Somalia in Feburary of this year. The TFG and its Kenyan allies are now preparing to take over the port city of Kismayo, an al-Shabaab stronghold in Lower Juba.

To learn more about their plans, Somalia Report interviewed Abdiweli Farah Elmi, the TFG military spokesman in Lower Juba, regarding ongoing military operations in the region.

What is the status of your military operation in Lower Juba?

For the last four months we have intensified our operation in the region. We ensured that we coordinate our army along with the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF). We received enough support from the government as well as the Kenyan forces.

What are your plans for Kismayo?

Details regarding this are classified. Generally, we have established measures and parameters for the advance of our forces towards Kismayo which is our main target in this region.

What challenges do you face regarding your operation?

Most roads in the region are impassable during the rainy season therefore this hinders transportation networks. Also, the army may be not be paid on time and this affects their motivation and performance.

How long will it take for the TFG army to reach Kismayo?

That is unpredictable, but I can assure you that in line with our plans, we shall take the least time possible to end the al-Shabaab regime in the region.

Al-Shabaab constantly vows that they will fight tooth and nail to protect Kismayo from the TFG and allied forces. What is your take on that?

These are simple claims that are part of a strategy to discourage their enemy. However, it is not possible and they are just words. Let us wait and see.

There have been a number of airstrikes carried out in some parts of Lower Juba and Gedo by Kenyan forces. How did this affect your operation?

It has helped a great deal and has contributed significantly to our operation. A number of airstrikes targeted al-Shabaab bases and it is believed that senior officials were killed. This in turn affects their fighters' morale and resistance therefore they retreated peacefully.

Is it possible that the Islamists may abandon Kismayo without a fight?

It is possible since similar retreats have occurred before as part of a new trend. We are armed to the teeth and ready to do anything to liberate the citizens from the extremists.

How is your relationship with the KDF in the region?

It is good. We are working as a team to realize our goals. We really appreciate their assistance. I call upon the Somali community to work with us so that our objectives are achieved as a country. God willing, together we shall succeed.

More than 20 were reported killed in fighting in Gedo region on Monday, as al-Shabaab launched attacks on Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ahlus Sunna wa Jamaa (ASWJ) forces, and the allied forces returned fire, including the use of airstrikes upon al-Shabaab bases nearby. The towns of El-Adde and El-Bur both saw heavy fighting, and locals and ASWJ spokesmen spoke with Somalia Report.

The fighting near El-Adde began when al-Shabaab militants ambushed a convoy of allied troops from Elwak district heading to El-Adde village.

Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi, a spokesman for ASWJ in southern Somalia, told Somalia Report that the fighting took place 15 km from El-Adde and their troops killed dozens of al-Shabaab fighters. “They launched a cruel ambush, but our troops with the help of Kenyan forces, repelled the extremists and forced them to run,” he said.

Locals reported airstrikes carried out by the Kenyan planes, and the ASWJ spokesman confirmed al-Shabaab's bases in the region had been struck. Al-Shabaab's casualties are unknown, but ASWJ and TFG sources claimed more than 20 were killed.

At least four people were reported dead in the war from both parties. Six others were reported injured, two of the injured were civilians.

Fighting also broke out in El-Bur. Abdiweli Siyad, the head of military operations for ASWJ in Somalia's central regions, told Somalia Report, “The fighting broke out at around 11am (0900 UTC) when al-Shabaab attacked an ASWJ base in El-Bur. Although we were not expecting the attack at first, the ASWJ forces managed to send the attacks back. The enemy's attack failed, and two of their fighters were killed.”

Residents described the fighting, “We heard gun shots. The town activities came to a standstill, most of us took shelter in the few stone buildings in the town and others stayed in their homes,” Suge Abdikadir, a resident of El-Bur, told Somalia Report.

The al-Shabaab militants were forced out from the town of El-Bur at the end of March and the ASWJ militia remains in control of the town.

Three Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officers who were arrested by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were released late yesterday in Lower Juba, following talks between the TFG and local leaders. These government officers were arrested on March 26, after they were accused of creating division among the allied forces struggling to take control of the Juba regions from al-Shabaab since October.

Mohamed Amin, a member of TFG parliament who hails from the Juba region, has accused Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), the leader of Ras Kamboni militia of being behind of the arrest of the TFG officers. There were reports of a dispute between Ahmed Madobe and the arrested transitional government officials over the administration of Afmadow district after al-Shabaab is ousted.

The release of the officers was confirmed by MP Mohamed Amin and TFG commanders in the region. Mohamed Amin has welcomed the release of Col. Dahir Budul, Col. Yusuf (Gaas Dal Dal) and Col. Abdi Nasir.

However, a joint press release given by Somali and Kenyan government officials in Nairobi on Friday denied that the officers had been arrested.