The incident occurred at Garbarahey, a remote base for the militants where they holding a strategy meeting, according to KDF officials/FILE
The incident occurred at Garbarahey, a remote base for the militants where they holding a strategy meeting, according to KDF officials.
“KDF fighter jets attacked an Al Shabaab camp, where a meeting was being held,” a senior KDF official said. “Initial battle damage assessment indicates more than 30 Al Shabaab militants killed, including key commanders.”
KDF believes that dozens others were wounded and managed to escape after the bombardment that destroyed five of their vehicles.
Officials believe the key Al Shabaab commanders were also killed in the attack but no immediate identity of any of those killed was released.
“We are yet to establish their identities, but they are definitely big shots in the militant group’s hierarchy,” another official said, adding “key assets” were destroyed.
Kenya has been battling the Al Shabaab terrorist group for the last three years after they were accused of kidnappings and other terror-related incidents in Kenya, posing serious security challenges.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who took over power from his predecessor Mwai Kibaki who launched the war, has vowed to maintain his military presence in the war-torn country, despite their sustained attempt to retaliate with bombings in Kenya.
“Let them (Al Shabaab) know that we will not relent on the war. Our forces will remain in Somalia until such time when we are satisfied that there is peace,” he said at the end of last year.
Kenya, whose military forces are fighting under AMISOM, has been credited for driving the militants away from the borders, and even taking over their key strategic area at the port of Kismayu.
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