Kenya Airstrike in Somalia Kills 30 Al-Shabab Fighters

Nairobi, 10 Jan 2014 (SDN) –Kenya says it carried out an airstrike in a southern region of neighboring Somalia, killing at least 30 al-Shabab fighters, including some key commanders.

The Kenyan military said via Twitter scores of others were wounded in the late Thursday attack on a camp in the town of Garbaharey in Somalia’s Gedo area.

The post also said more than five vehicles and other key assets were destroyed at the camp, where it said al-Shabab had been holding a meeting.

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Friday responded to the strike, saying on Twitter it represented a “significant blow” to al-Shabab.

Kenya sent forces into Somalia in 2011 to fight the al-Qaida-inspired Islamist group, which has carried out a series of bombings and kidnappings in the region.

Nairobi officials have said they will keep their troops in Somalia for as long as necessary to win the war. Kenyan troops are fighting alongside African Union forces.

Al-Shabab once controlled large parts of the war-torn country, but has since been pushed out of major cities.

Source: VOANEWS