Kenya military kills 52 al-Shabaab militants in Somalia

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

The Kenyan military early Friday killed 52 al-Shabaab militants in Badhaadhe region in southern Somalia, military spokesman Col. Joseph Owuoth confirmed in a statement.

Owuoth said that Kenya Defense Forces soldiers working under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) attacked an al-Shabaab camp at around 1 a.m. East African Time (2200GMT on Thursday).

“The initial assessment indicates that 52 terrorists were killed, while others fled with injuries,” Col. Owuoth said.

He added that Kenyan soldiers seized seven AK-47 rifles, one PK machine gun, two phones, 104 rounds of ammunition, three improvised explosive devices, and assorted materials used for manufacturing IEDs.

The Kenyan military said that the intelligence-led operation was launched after surveillance assets sighted al-Shabaab terrorist concentration in Lower Juba in Somalia close to the Kenyan-Somali border.

"Ground troops supported by mortar and artillery fire were employed to neutralize the camp thereafter," the statement added.

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

The Kenyan military early Friday killed 52 al-Shabaab militants in Badhaadhe region in southern Somalia, military spokesman Col. Joseph Owuoth confirmed in a statement.

Owuoth said that Kenya Defense Forces soldiers working under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) attacked an al-Shabaab camp at around 1 a.m. East African Time (2200GMT on Thursday).

“The initial assessment indicates that 52 terrorists were killed, while others fled with injuries,” Col. Owuoth said.

"Ground troops supported by mortar and artillery fire were employed to neutralize the camp thereafter," the statement added.