Five Kenyan soldiers killed in Al-Shabaab attack near Somalia border

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NAIROBI, July 29 (Reuters) - Five Kenyan security officers were killed in a clash with suspected ​al Shabaab militants in the ‌county of Mandera near the Somali border, police said.

The militant group has been battling for ​years to overthrow Somalia's central ​government and establish its rule in the ⁠Horn of Africa country, based on ​its own strict interpretation of Islamic ​sharia law.

"A patrol team from SOG Alungu came into contact with Al-Shabaab militants in the general ​area of Wantey Dam," police said ​in a report, following Tuesday's clash around noon.

Police ‌are pursuing the militants, they added, after a reinforcement team sent to the area was hit by an improvised explosive ​device, which ​destroyed an ⁠armoured vehicle, though no casualties were reported.

Al Shabaab's frequent attacks ​in the region target ​both ⁠military and civilians, with police saying in January the militants had killed a local ⁠chief ​and a teacher in ​the nearby county of Garissa.

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