The Kenya Defence Forces on Friday deployed helicopter gunships and fighter jets in a massive counter-offensive against the Al-Shabaab militia of Somalia after the terror group attacked its camp in El-Adde, in Gedo province, killing an unknown number of soldiers.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, saluted the Kenyan troops who were killed in combat, saying they did not die in vain, because they were protecting Kenya from her enemies.
The President said the Kenyan troops would remain in Somalia to sustain the offensive against Al-Shabaab until the terror group was defeated.
“We will not be cowed by these cowards. With our allies, we will continue in Somalia to fulfil our mission. We will hunt down the criminals involved in today’s events. Our soldiers’ blood will not be shed in vain,” he added.
The counter-offensive, which was triggered by a 4am ambush on the Kenyan camp, lasted the entire day.
Earlier, the military headquarters in Nairobi confirmed the deaths but fell short of giving the number of those killed in combat, saying efforts to “consolidate” returns from the battlefield were still ongoing.
In the counter-offensive, KDF carried out airstrikes at Al-Shabaab camps where the attack was planned, using helicopter gunships and fighter jets.
The militants also suffered massive casualties, according to area residents who posted information, which could not be verified, on Twitter.
