Kenyan fighter jets attacked Al-Shabab fighters base in Elwak district near Somalia’s border with Kenya, Somali official said Saturday.
The area targeted in the Friday attack was identified as Kalabayrka which lies 8km away from Elwak town.
Elwak deputy district commissioner, Sahal Moalim Aden said the warplanes attacked the area following tips off that Al-shabab are regrouping its fighters in the area.
“Kenyan war planes bombed Kalabayrka neighbourhood where Al-shabab was reportedly amassing its fighters. The fighters fled and no casualty was reported,” said Aden.
Kenya intensifies attacks in Somalia
Kenyan forces recently stepped up attacks against Al-shabab group alongside Kenya’s border with Somalia.
Aden pointed out that Kenya’s Anti-terror Police Unit (ATPU) conducted two raids in the district in less than two months.
“Kenyan military had been attacking Al-shabab in this district since early last month. Kenyan Anti-terror Police particularly attacked this district twice in last month,” he noted.
Late last month, suspected Kenyan gunships attacked Elwak town where they destroyed telecommunications mast and several houses.
Kenyan government denied conducting any attack in the neighbouring town.
A week prior that raid, Somali soldier killed after Kenya troops who crossed the border into Somalia engaged in a brief gun battle with Somali military in Elwak town.
Security wall reduced attacks against Kenya
North-eastern regional coordinator, Mohamed Salaah this week said the number of attacks against Kenya has significantly reduced in the region since Kenya government started the construction of 700km security wall along Kenya- Somalia border.
Saleh pointed out that Al-shabab was using open border to carry out attacks on security vehicles, plant landmine and destroyed telecommunications mast before retreating back into Somalia.
“We like good neighborliness but we would not allow our people to be terrorized by anybody. We have to defend our territory, our people as a government,” Salah said during the security committee meeting in Wajir town.
Kenya sent its troops to fight Al-shabab inside Somalia in 2011 after the group allegedly abducted aid workers and teachers from Dadaab refugee camps in North-eastern Kenya.
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