(Sh. M. Network)--Witnesses said naval ships fired missiles on the strategic port city of Kismayo, the largest seaport town still held by Al-Shabaab... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban...
faceless myrmidons in southern Somalia.
A resident, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, confirmed to Shabelle Media the naval attacks on Kismayo, about 500 Km (310 miles) south of Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
The situation is reportedly tense for the second day and the local residents began to flee their houses as the allied forces move closer to the town for fear of air, sea and ground attacks that could result heavy civilian casualties.
No casualties were reported so far as Somali and AU forces are trying to wrest control from Al shabab, which announced merger with Al Qaeda early this year.