Somalia: KDF strikes al-Shabaab base, kills 40 militants

GARBAHAREY, Somalia- A Somali official says at least 40 al-Shabaab militants were killed in an airstrike by Kenyan Defense Force (KDF) warplanes at a rebel-held locations in the country’s southwestern Gedo region on Sunday,

Osman Nur Hajji, the deputy Governor of Gedo region who is in charge of the security confirmed the attack, saying the fighter jets targeted al Shabaab meeting in Kabis area, 20 km north of Garbaharey town.

Hajji said several foreign jihadists were among the senior al-Shabaab commanders killed in Sunday’s air raid. The Kenyan military jets also hit Funuje, a nearby militants’ hideout, killing several combatants.

"40 al-Shabaab members, including foreign commanders when Kenyan air forces carried out airstrike in Funuje and Kabis villages in the northern outskirts of Garbaharey district, ," said the deputy Governor.

A local journalist in the region who did not want to be identified also confirmed the raid, but, he did not confirm the number of the casualty figures resulted in the aerial bombardment against Al shabaab.

KDF did not comment on the airstrike. Kenya has large number of soldiers in Somalia, serving with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The bombardment came after AFRICOM confirmed that United States and Somali military forces raided a rebel-held Kunya Barrow area, in southern Somalia and killed several al-Shabaab fighters in July 14.

U.S. President Donald Trump granted last March additional authority to U.S. Africa Command to conduct counter-terrorism airstrikes against the al Qaida-linked al-Shabaab group in Somalia.

GAROWEONLINE