At least two Al-Shabaab militants were killed in a mortar attack in Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, a government official confirmed.

At least three mortars landed into a residential area in Wadajir district which is near the heavily guarded Mogadishu airport, which has seen mortar attacks by the militants in the past few days.

Minister of Internal Security, Mohamed Abukar Islow told reporters that the security forces engaged the armed fighters in a shootout after the vehicle which was being used to fire the mortar exploded.

"Security forces shot dead two Al-Shabaab militants who had tried to carry out mortar attacks near the airport. The militants engaged the security forces in gunfight but were overpowered. The security forces recovered weapons but the vehicle exploded without causing any casualties,” Islow said.

Witnesses said the militants slammed three shells at residences near Mogadishu airport, causing civilian casualties.

"Three mortar shells hit my house and into two other houses nearby and they injured two children and an old woman who were rushed to Madina hospital in Mogadishu,” said the witnesses who sought anonymity.

The latest attack comes days after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared an all-out war against the insurgents and offered them 60 days to surrender.

Xinhua