Al-Shabaab suspected to have captured town in south west Somalia

Al-Shabaab militants are suspected to have taken control of Goof-gadud town in South West Somalia following fierce clash with Somali army and the South West state security forces which lasted for hours Sunday morning.

Security forces in the area told Goobjoog News heavy fighting ensued in the morning for hours but the coalition forces withdrew shortly before returning. They did not however manage to fight off the militants who ultimately took over the area, the sources said.

A federal MP, Mohamed Isaq Afralle told Goobjoog News however fighting was still going on and that it was not immediately clear if it had fallen into the hands of Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab news portal claimed seven Somali soldiers had been killed and ten others injured.

If confirmed, the fall of Goof-gadud could add to the list of a number of villages which have fallen to Al-Shabaab in the recent weeks following a number of withdrawals by Amisom forces.

Tiyeglow in Bakool region was captured by the militants last week after Ethiopian forces withdrew from the town.