KDF secures US Naval Base, kills 5 Al-Shabaab militants

LAMU, KENYA - Special Forces drawn from Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) have secured Camp Simba after an Al-Shabaab terror attack, Col Paul Njuguna has said.

Al-Shabaab militants stormed the military base on Sunday morning after disrupting power supply within the vicinity, locals said.

The militants accessed the base which also hosts US elite Marine corps from the Hindi area, which neighbours notorious Boni Forest, witnesses claimed.

Four several hours, the unknown number of militants opened fire at the base, causing massive destruction of equipment, US Africa Command said.

Manda Airstrip secured

KDF spokesman Col Paul Njuguna however, says the base has been fully secured by the defence forces, adding that functions at the airport shall resume.

"The situation has been contained on the ground and normal airstrip functions are set to resume, he said in a statement.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) had on Sunday suspended activities at Manda Airstrip following the intense fighting between KDF and the military.

Besides being used by military aircraft, the airstrip is used for domestic flights given the tourist attraction with Manda Island and the environs.

Five bodes and sophisticated weapons recovered

KDF, Col Njuguna added, managed to recover a total of five bodies of the militants. Search is ongoing to locate more bodies.

Several sophisticated types of equipment used by the militants among them AK47 guns and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers were also recovered.

"Following the operation, five bodies of neutralised militants were recovered, search ongoing for more," Col Njuguna said.

He added: "Four AK47 rifles, one hand grenade, 4 RPG launchers, one PKM gun and assorted ammunition were recovered."

Military equipment destroyed

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) had earlier accused Al-Shabaab militants of "exaggerating" the situation at Manda Airstrip, adding that the area had been secured.

Al-Shabaab, the US military said, "resorts to lies, coercion, and the exertion of force to bolster their reputation to create false headlines".

Two fixed-wing aircrafts belonging to the US and Kenya were destroyed. Two other helicopters used by the US Marines were also destroyed.

Also, several vehicles belonging to the US were dismembered by the militants. Fuel tanks within the military base burst into flames, causing further destruction.

Al-Shabaab fails to prove casualties

In their statement, Al-Shabaab claimed that both Kenya and the US suffered "massive casualties besides destruction of the equipment".

The group termed the attack a "daring" raid, adding that the execution was largely successful according to "our plans".

However, the group failed to post any photos to support the claims of casualties. Photos of aircraft on fire were posted by affiliate media.

One of the group's spokesman said the attack "has nothing to do with the US' standoff with Iran" which has dominated the media in recent days.

Iran has threatened "crushing revenge" following the murder of Gen Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Revolutionary Guard Corps on Friday.

KDF to pursue lucky militants

KDF, Col Njuguna said, " will continue pursuing the evil elements into their hiding caves until they are permanently destroyed".

"Their plans will not and will never succeed. Terrorists are known for propagating falsehoods in an attempt to grab headlines," he added.

Bodies of the five dead militants were displayed at the Manda Airstrip with all the recovered sophisticated weapons. They were in military gears.

However, some sources said that the actual number of the killed militants could be eight. Five others were arrested and detained by the military.

GAROWE ONLINE