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Kenya’s military says it has killed 19 fighters from the Somali extremist group al-Shabaab who were attempting to ambush Somali national troops.
Military spokesperson Colonel David Obonyo said on Wednesday Kenyan troops on patrol Tuesday night in the southern city of Afmadow found a group of militants suspected to have been preparing to attack a Somali National Army camp.
“The Al-Shabaab terrorists had approached the camp at night with the intention to attack and cut off the SNA from Amisom (KDF) camp. KDF soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle.”
“The Al-Shabaab attempted to fight back but were swiftly repulsed by the KDF soldiers on patrol and those at the camp,” said Col Obonyo. The statement did not indicate if there was a casualty on the Amisom troops.
The KDF personnel said they recovered a vehicle, 10 AK 47 rifles and three Rocket Propelled Grenades.
The incident comes two weeks after the US strike killed more than 150 al-Shabaab militants.
Al-Shabaab, which is allied to al-Qaeda, is waging an insurgency against Somalia’s United Nations-backed government, carrying out deadly attacks on military and civilian targets in and out of Somalia.
Kenya is among six countries contributing troops under the banner of the African Union Mission in Somalia that are bolstering Somalia’s weak government.
Al-Shabaab killed up to 200 Kenyan soldiers in a January attack, according to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
