Troops kill four Shabaab militants, says military

Major Emmanuel Chirchir, Kenya's military spokesman. Photo | FILE

Kenyan soldiers have killed four Al-Shabaab fighters as the operation against the militants enters the fifth month, military reports say.

A statement issued by the Kenya Defence Forces said the four were killed as they attempted to attack Kenyan and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers at Hawina in the central sector.

Military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir added that a Kenyan soldier was killed in the Wednesday night operation.

“The TFG fighters and Kenya Defence Forces yesterday killed four Al-Shabaab militants at Hawina,” said the statement signed Major Chirchir.

Recovered weapons

“The militants attacked the joint forces who were on a pacification mission in the area,” the statement added.

He said the Kenyan soldiers and their allies recovered weapons from the militants including a sniper rifle, three AK47s and communication equipment.

The troops were heading to Dobley from Tabda, two towns captured from the militants.

Kenyan troops started Operation Linda Nchi on October 16 last year to wipe out Al-Shabaab following attacks on tourists and aid workers in coastal resorts and parts of northern Kenya.

They have since liberated several towns in Somalia.

Their efforts are being complemented by TFG fighters, Ethiopian troops and the 12,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) force.