Al-Shabaab Fighters (File Photo)
Kenyan military forces have killed approximately 75 al-Shabaab fighters as part of their military operations against the Islamic insurgents in southern Somalia near the town of Balesqoqani, 100 kilometers from the Kenya-Somalia border, military officials said Tuesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Nyaga, the commander of the Kenyan Linda Nchi operation against al-shabaab, confirmed the killing of at least 75 insurgents on the frontlines.
“The Kenyan defense forces have not incurred any casualties so far, but during the last two battles, especially the one for Tabta, around 75 al-shabaab militias were killed,” he said and added their forces have already captured four strategic towns in the Lower Juba region from the militants.
The commander said the operation is going as planned and that the villages and districts recovered from al-shabaab were being handed over to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces, Ras Kamboni fighters, and the local administration of the area.
"We are receiving very good cooperation from the local Somalis who had been subdued by al-Shabaab," said Nyagah.
Local Somali residents told Somalia Report that the Kenyan soldiers supporting the TFG forces from Dhobley have taken control of key strategic towns of Afmadow, Balesqoqani, and this evening they had captured Tabta, a strategic town in Lower Jubba Region.
Journalists who flew in a military helicopter to Tabta this afternoon said they were unable to land due to the heavy fighting and reported seeing Kenyan tanks and military forces in the town.
Tabta resident Dalmar Muhiyadiin told Somalia Report that the Kenyan troops, using tanks and warplanes, reached Tabta this evening were heading to Kismayo, a stronghold port city of the militants.
“During the last five days warplanes have been flying over the skies of the area, but this evening the Kenyan troops with the TFG forces have captured the town,” he said.
Kenyans vigilant for guerrilla attacks
Lieutenant Colonel Abdul of the Kenyan military said that they are aware the militants like to use hit and run tactics. To counter this, the Kenyans and TFG forces are collecting intelligence from local Somalis.
“We have been collecting enough information from the Somali people and also some tribes in the North Eastern province of Kenya. We are prepared," he said.
Kenyan cabinet backs operation
Kenya's cabinet pledged its support for the operation and consoled the families of five servicemen who died in a helicopter crash at Liboi on Sunday evening.
“The cabinet that met today (Tuesday) at the state house in Nairobi and also supported and commended the actions taken by members of the Kenya Defence forces and other security forces in the offensive against al-shabaab,” according to a statement from the Presidential Press Unit.
They have assured the military that Kenyans are supporting their efforts to secure Kenya from foreign aggressive attacks.
Crackdown at refugee camps
The Kenyan forces have cracked on security at the world's largest refugee camps of Dadaab in northern Kenya and arrested more than 12 al-shabaab suspects, according to Khadra Abduwahid, at the Hagardere refugee camp in Dadaab.
“Kenyan police forces are in every corner of the three main refugee camps in Dadaab. So far they have arrested more than 12 individuals in Hagardere, Dagahley and Ifo refugee camps,” she said.
The Kenyan operation in Somalia comes after armed Somali men crossed into Kenya and abducted four foreign nations in different incidents including a British woman, a French woman and two Spanish aid workers who are all still being held in southern Somalia.
Timeline of the Kenyan operation in Somalia
Saturday 15 October - The Kenyan ministers of internal security George Saitoti and defense, Yussuf Haji, invoked of Article 51 of the United Nations charter that allows every country to defend itself from any aggression on its territory.
Sunday 16 October - Kenyan military forces, using tanks and warplanes, crossed the Kenya-Somalia border in response to a wave kidnappings by armed Somali gunmen within Kenya's borders.
Monday 17 October - The al-Shabaab militants threatened to bring down skyscrapers in Nairobi after the Kenyan military invaded Somali territory.
Tuesday, 18 October - A Kenyan delegation arrived in Mogadishu to discuss working with Somalia in fighting al-Shabaab. Both sides agreed to support each other until stability is restored.
They need better names for their Operations.
