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Africa Horn
Kenya sends more KDF troops to Somalia
2016-01-26
Kenya has sent more Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers to Somalia in its continuing search, rescue and recovery operation, according to a communication from Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe. The troops from various KDF divisions across the country were assembled and sent to the war-torn country to conduct operations in Al Shabaab bases at El Adde and other towns in the Gedo region.

The key mission for the forces is to annihilate Al Shabaab militants and recover or destroy military hardware that Al Shabaab insurgents looted from KDF camps during last week’s attack in El Adde.

“The latest ground troops from the infantry units, whose sole purpose is to fight and win land battles, are on their way to El Adde to reinforce several other soldiers currently engaging the militants in their hideouts near Gedo towns as fighter jets and attack helicopters continue to bombard the militants targets in Gedo and Baay regions,” said Mwathethe.

Military sources privy to the ongoing operation in Gedo region have confirmed that Al Shabaab militants had suffered heavy casualties after KDF F-5 fighter jets and Z-9 gunship attack helicopters from the 50th Air-Cavalry battalion bombed their bases in five towns near El Adde and Gedo town.

The developments come just two days after KDF said they believe they had killed the commander of the El Adde attack in two waves of air strikes conducted last Sunday.

In his press briefing on Thursday, General Mwathethe said hundreds of Al Shabaab militants had also been killed in the air strikes.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  Kenya: Report of death toll false, KDF says
Military spokesman David Obonyo responded to latest claims by Governor Nur Burale of Garbaharey Town in Gedo region who said 200 Kenyan soldiers died in the dawn attack.

“That is propaganda. The figure is way beyond the number expected in a company which has 120 people. There are many soldiers who survived. Some were airlifted to Nairobi while others are in Wajir awaiting deployment,” he said.

Col Obonyo, however, declined to give the death toll or the number of survivors and missing soldiers.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2016-01-26 14:45  

#1  From an article linked by the above article:
Kenyan defense forces (KDF) serving as part of African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have withdrawn from El Addde base, residents confirmed to Radio Shabelle.

KDF pulled out of the base after suspecting the area water wells being poisoned by Al shabaab, the Al Qaeda-linked militants who attacked Kenyan army base El Adde in January 15, 2016.

Meanwhile, Kenya Army spokesperson Colonel David Obonyo told the BBC that the withdrawal of El Adde base was part of normal military movements.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2016-01-26 14:42  

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