By Magdalene Mukami

Nairobi

Working under a UN mission, Kenyan soldiers Tuesday killed seven al-Shabaab militants in a southern region of Somalia, near Kenya’s border, also liberating a mosque and police station from militant control, said a military official.

Kenya military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Njuguna said in a media statement that the dawn attack was planned and executed by Kenyan soldiers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

"Today, 24 January 2017, at dawn, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers operating under AMISOM, while on routine pacification operations in the general area of Badhaadhe, successfully launched an offensive operation on al-Shabaab terrorists who had taken control of a mosque and police station," Njuguna said.

"KDF – Kenya Defence Forces – soldiers overwhelmed the terrorists, killing seven (7). Following the engagement, eight (8) AK-47 rifles and ammunition were captured," he added.

The Kenyan military official added that Kenyan soldiers also recovered al-Shabaab flags, magazines, IED cables, machetes, and two 81mm bombs.

He added that Kenyan soldiers will remain vigilant and continue to pursue the terrorists to ensure peace and security in Kenya, and that Kenya's support for AMISOM operations to stabilize Somalia remain unwavering.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab militants have carried out numerous attacks in Kenya since 2012, and the group has vowed to carry out more attacks on Kenyan soil unless the country removes its soldiers from war-torn Somalia.