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25 Shabaab militants killed in botched ambush on KDF

The troops, were en route to Tabda from Dobley, “while approaching Hawina at 8.23am, were shot at by a lone Al Shabaab terrorist who fled the scene/FILE

The troops, were en route to Tabda from Dobley, “while approaching Hawina at 8.23am, were shot at by a lone Al Shabaab terrorist who fled the scene/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – Kenya Defence Forces have killed 21 Al Shabaab terrorists who had ambushed them in Somalia.

A statement from the military headquarters says those killed include junior level commander Salad Bart who was leading the group that was laying an ambush on the soldiers at Hawina within Tabda area.

Military Spokesman David Obonyo says 17 AK-47 rifles and other assorted weapons including Rocket Propelled Grenades and launchers were recovered.

“The KDF will remain vigilant and continue its efforts against Al Shabaab terrorists and their attempts to destabilise the region,” Obonyo stated.

KDF did not suffer any casualty during the attack that occurred on a road leading to Tabda from Dobley.

The troops, were en route to Tabda from Dobley, “while approaching Hawina at 8.23am, were shot at by a lone Al Shabaab terrorist who fled the scene.”

That’s when the KDF troops according to Obonyo started patrolling the area to flush out the Al Shabaab terrorists.

“At around 10am the troops engaged Al Shabaab terrorists who were attempting to mount an ambush along the road to Tabda,” he stated.

The KDF troops operating under AMISOM have heightened their surveillance following January 5 attack in their EL-Adde camp, an attack that claimed tens of soldiers.

The Shabaab, fighting to overthrow Somalia’s internationally-backed and AU-protected government, has launched a string of similar attacks.

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In September 2015, Al Shabaab fighters stormed a Ugandan AMISOM base in Janale district, 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region.

And in June, Al Shabaab killed dozens of Burundian soldiers when they overran an AMISOM outpost northwest of Mogadishu.

The militants also stage frequent suicide attacks in the capital.

But the 22,000-strong AMISOM force has also made significant gains against the Shabaab, pushing them out of several strongholds in the southwest of the country.

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