17 Shabaab militants killed in air strikes
FILE | NATION
The Kenya Navy on the deep waters of the Indian ocean near Koday town in Somalia, as the Kenya Defence Forces continue with ‘Operation Linda Nchi’ to eliminate terror group, Al-Shabaab.
What you need to know:
- Military spokesman says joint Kenya-Somalia forces have intensified attacks near Kismayu
Seventeen Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in a joint operation by the Kenya Defence Forces and Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government soldiers in Hosingo near Kismayu, Somalia.
KDF Spokesman, Maj Emmanuel Chirchir, said a senior Al-Shabaab commander and an administrator were killed in two air raids on a camp near the Kenya border.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) KDF carried out two air raids on an Al-Shabaab camp close to the Kenyan border. The first attack was conducted at midday and the second one at 3.30pm. It is believed a senior Al-Shabaab commander, a former administrator and over 17 fighters died,” he said.
He asked residents in South Central Somalia, where the air strikes were intensified, not to interact with members of the terror group.
Maj Chirchir said on Wednesday that a military vehicle on patrol from Tabda to Dobley drove over an improvised explosive device at Hawina.
“The vehicle’s front axle was damaged and the left front wheel detached, but there were no injuries to the joint forces as purported by the Al-Shabaab,” he said.
In Mogadishu, the militia group claimed civilians were killed in the air raids. Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Omar, an elder from the affected area told the media that 12 people died in the attack while 24 others were wounded, most of them severely.
At the same time, a landmine explosion at Dharkinley District in South Mogadishu killed a woman and wounded three others on Tuesday.
Witnesses said the blast was caused by a remote-controlled device that targeted women engaged in cash-for-work assignments.
In November a similar blast killed 10 people, six of them women city cleaners with the Somalia Government. Al-Shabaab was blamed for the attack.
On Monday, two people were seriously injured after gunmen shot at them in Garissa Town while police officers escaped unhurt yesterday after an explosion in Dadaab.
Police have since blamed the terror group for the blast they suspect was caused by an explosive detonated by a remote control.
Dadaab DO Thomas Bett said it had been set to blow up a police vehicle carrying officers on patrol and exploded five metres before the vehicle reached the spot.
Landmine explosions targeting police and military convoys have become commonplace in North Eastern Province.
On Wednesday’s was the sixth in barely two weeks, bringing the number of casualties to 17 officers, including two who died.
