31 Al Shabaab militants killed in Somalia, two bases destroyed: Kenya military

Kenyan military said they have killed 31 al Shabaab fighters in the Baadhade District in Somalia’s Jubbaland after raids on two command and logistics bases on Sunday.

According to Kenya Defence Forces spokesperson, Colonel Jospeh Owuoth in a statement on Monday, the soldiers operating under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) executed the operation by air and ground.

“Ground troops were supported by attack helicopters and artillery fire, to access the al Shabaab terrorists’ base and the two command and logistics bases locared 17 kilometres from Sarira near Hola Wajeer,” Colonel Owuoth said.

Two vehicles were destroyed while some items including 11 AK-47 rifles, 2 PKMs, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, foodstuff, communication equipment, uniforms, detonating cables and 643 rounds of ammunition were retrieved during raid, he added.

Kenya sent troops into Somalia in October 2011 in a bid to crack down on al Shabaab, which had been coordinating cross-border kidnappings.

Hundreds of Kenyan soldiers have died during attacks by al Shabaab.

Kenya has contributed more than 3,600 troops to the 22,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

#OpsUpdate :Our soldiers under amisomsomalia yesterday successfully raided Al Shabaab terrorists bases in Sarira & Hola Wajeer killing 31 pic.twitter.com/yL7qVNrW1x

— Kenya Defence Forces (kdfinfo) March 27, 2017