By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya
The Kenyan military on Thursday announced that it has killed 51 suspected al-Shabab militants a few kilometers from Bardera region in southeastern Somalia.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the phone, Kenya Defense Forces spokesman Col. David Obonyo said that the Kenyan military had carried out a heavy artillery bombardment in the Jungal.
“The attack happened early in the morning, we spent the whole day trying to identify the bodies,” said Obonyo. “We have counted 51 bodies of militants [so far] who were killed in the strikes.”
“The artillery bombardment of one of their major bases near Bardera will cripple most of their activities as top commanders were present at the time of the attack,” the spokesman added.
He told the Anadolu Agency that the Kenyan military was pushing further into Somalia.
The attack comes barely a day after Kenya Defense Forces killed seven suspected al-Shabab militants who had reportedly planted an Improvised Explosive Device on a path which was being used by the Kenyan military convoy.
On Thursday, the Kenyan Ministry of Interior confirmed that a U.S. drone attack had killed Mohamed Kuno who is said to have orchestrated the Garissa Universty attack, in which more than 140 students were killed last April.
Security in Kenya has been tightened as the East African country prepares to host visiting American president Barack Obama later this month.
