Breaking News: Diinsor falls to allied forces as Al-Shabaab flee

Somali Soldiers supported by African peace-keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops have captured Diinsoor town from al Shabaab fighters, sources said on Friday.

The AMISOM and SNA tanks rolled into the town and took control without any struggle or fight as Al-Shabaab fighters had already left the town for fear of a clash

The second blow to Al-Shabab in less than 72 hours as the group lost control of the town of Bardhere in south of Somalia’s Gedo region days ago.

A resident in the town confirmed to Goobjoog News that African Union and Somali troops rolled into the town Friday morning as Al-Shabaab fled the town.

A military source in Diinsoor also told the media their soldiers did not encounter any resistance and that they are now in full control of the town.

He said the soldiers are preparing to move into other parts of the town to confirm whether any al-Shabab remnants have stayed behind.

Al-shabab has been controlling Diinsoor for a long time and has been strategic town to the fighters whose existences deem day by day.

The move comes after hundreds of Somalia National Army backed by African Union forces launched new military offensive against Al Shabab held areas in Bay and Gedo regions in south of Somalia.

Al-Shabab has been weakened as a military and political force since being driven out of the Somali capital Mogadishu by African Union forces. Since then, the group has lost several other important towns including Barawe, Kismayu and Bardhere which it relied on, as a source of revenue and supplies.

The Al-Shabab, meaning “youth” in Arabic, emerged out of a bitter insurgency against Ethiopia, whose troops entered Somalia in 2006 in a US-backed invasion to topple the Islamic Courts Union that was then controlling the capital Mogadishu.

Al-Shabab fighters continue to stage frequent attacks, seeking to counter claims that they are close to defeat after losing territory in the face of repeated African Union and Somali government offensives, regular US drone strikes against their leaders and defections.