Kenya Military Bombs al-Shabab Bases During Meeting Kill 30 Including Top Commanders After Garissa Attack

According to tvcnews.tv, Kenya's military has killed at least 30 al-Shabab militants, including top commanders in an air raid on a training camp in Somalia, authorities say. The strike on Thursday occurred in Garbaharey, Somalia's Gedo region near the border with Kenya and Ethiopia.

"KDF [Kenya Defence Force] fighter jets attacked an al-Shabaab camp, where a meeting was being held," a senior KDF official said. "Initial battle damage assessment indicates more than 30 al-Shabaab militants killed, including key commanders," the official added.

On his Twitter account, military spokesperson Maj Emmanuel Chirchir said the air strike missed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane by 30 minutes. "We are yet to establish their identities, but they are definitely big shots in the militant group's hierarchy." KDF on its Twitter page said five vehicles and other "key assets" were destroyed in the raid.

Kenya has several thousand troops stationed in Somalia, helping President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud's government in tackling al-Shabab. Despite a deadly attack on a shopping mall in Kenya's capital Nairobi in September, President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to maintain Kenya's military presence in the war-torn country. "Let them [Shabaab] know that we will not relent on the war," Kenyatta said late last year."Our forces will remain in Somalia until such time when we are satisfied that there is peace."

Source; tvcnews.tv