Garissa Town

Garissa Town

Garissa Town

Posted on: February 14, 2012 - 1:37 pm
by Admin

Relatives of the slain men say they believed it was an Al-Shabaab attack as one of the terrorist group’s leaders – identified only as Sheikh Ahmed – had claimed two of the victims were wanted by the militants because they had fled Somalia to sabotage the group.

A soldier was killed and three others injured, according to the Department of Defence, bringing to nine the number of soldiers killed in Operation Linda Nchi. Five of those died in a helicopter accident at the border town of Liboi.

Reports from witnesses said Kenyan troops were shot at from two directions after the explosion at Mlima Fisi. They suffered leg injuries and severe burns, witnesses said.

The attackers reportedly fled into the bush after the troops returned fire.

Sophisticated improvised explosive devices have been widely used against allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the one used in the attack appeared to be a landmine.

At the front, Kenyan forces attacked Al-Shabaab camps in air and ground assaults, Department of Defence spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir said on Thursday.

The Kenya Air Force carried out two airstrikes on two Al-Shabaab training camps on Wednesday. Maj Chirchir said post-attack assessment confirmed seven militants were killed and weapons recovered.

The third attack on another Al-Shabaab training camp by Transitional Federal Government and Kenyan ground troops killed three militants, the Army said.

Major Chirchir said Kenyan and TFG soldiers attacked an Al-Shabaab training camp in the town of Hawina between Dobley and Tabda.

During Thursday’s engagement, “three Al-Shabaab militants were killed and two AK47 rifles captured. Several Al-Shabaab militias escaped with injuries,” he said.

On the Moyale attack, Major Chirchir said Kenyan troops on board a service truck drove over a planted improvised explosive device while on patrol duties in the general area of Mlima Fisi in Mandera.

Five soldiers were seriously injured and were airlifted to Garissa for treatment. One soldier died.

Source: Daily Nation