Nairobi -- Kenyan soldiers have killed 49 Al-Shabaab fighters, including five commanders, in intensified airstrikes in southern Somalia, an official said on Thursday.| As good a place to kill them as anywhere... |
"The airstrike took place on Tuesday but we could not do damage assessments due to bad weather until late Wednesday when we established that our troops killed 49 Al-Shabaab fighters, including five commanders, while 27 others were injured," he said.
Obonyo said two technical vehicles were also destroyed during the air strike that started last Saturday after the militants ambushed a Nairobi-bound commuter bus and massacred 28 non-Muslims in Mandera, northern Kenya.
Obonyo said the militants have been using their tactical operations and supply chain command base in Jilib to launch attacks in Mandera.
"The two camps are important Al-Shabaab logistics and operational bases which have been key transit points for militia movement to other areas," Obonyo said. "We believe the militants have been using these transit routes for their operational movement and launch of attacks in Mandera. Normal patrols have been intensified across the region."