MOGADISHU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Four al-Shabab militants were killed and seven others injured on Monday in heavy fighting with forces of Somalia's central regional state of Galmudug, officials said.

Mohamed Sheikh Mohamud, deputy governor of Elbur, a town in Galgudud, confirmed on Tuesday they lost two soldiers and two others sustained injuries during the fighting.

"Galmudug State forces killed four terrorist fighters and injured seven others in Monday's fighting in the region," Mohamud said. "We responded to the locals' request to defend them against terrorists who were planning to attack the area and rob them of domestic animals."

"We are in full control of the area now," he said, adding that the forces are still pursuing the militants around the area.

Al-Shabab militants' affiliated websites say their fighters killed two soldiers and captured the area from Galmudug forces.

Meanwhile, airstrikes targeted al-Shabab bases in locations near Haradhere, a town in Mudug region, Galmudug State, on Monday evening.

It is not immediately clear who were behind the airstrikes, nor how many were killed or injured in the air raid, if any.