80 Shabaab killed in air raids: Amisom

More than 80 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed when the Kenyan military carried out air strikes in Somalia on Sunday.

The operation is aimed at gaining control of more areas from the terrorist group.

They targeted Al-Shabaab bases in Anole and Kuday in lower Juba region which has been allocated to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) by the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).

Keep up pressure

“Amisom forces have conducted air strikes as part of a sustained effort to destroy Al-Shabaab’s military capabilities.

The air strikes in Anole left more than 30 fighters dead, three technical vehicles and one loaded with ammunition destroyed.

In Kuday, the air strike killed more than 50 insurgents,” said an Amisom statement.

The weekend raids come just days after gunmen raided Mpeketoni and Maporomoko townships in Lamu killing 60.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility through Radio Andulus in Somalia, but the Kenya Government’s position is that the attacks were politically motivated.

KDF spokesman Emanuel Chirchir said Amisom would continue to put pressure on Al-Shabaab.

The special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), Mr Mahamat Saleh Annadif, commended KDF for the raids.

“Our forces will keep up the pressure on Al-Shabaab. We will employ all means at our disposal to end their reign of terror,” he said.

He added that Amisom was in Somalia to work with the country’s forces and make life better for the citizens.

Ten towns

The air strikes complement the joint offensive between the Somali army and Amisom.

Apart from Kenya, other countries that have deployed forces in Somalia are Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.

“More than 10 towns have been hit as part of a final push to liberate Somalia from the grip of Al-Shabaab,” said Amisom.

AFP quoted Al-Shabaab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab saying Kenyan troops were also fighting them on the ground on Monday.