Kenyan soldiers kill 8 Al-Shabaab in foiled attacks

Kenyan military said Saturday its soldiers operating under African Union peacekeeping mission killed eight Al-Shabaab militants while the rest fled in foiled three separate attacks in southern Somalia and coastal Kenya.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman David Obonyo said the early Saturday attack in the area of Damasa in Gedo region of southern Somalia also saw the troops recover two rifles, a mobile phone and a radio

"The troops were engaged in a fire fight with an estimated 20 Al-Shabaab militia, killing three while the rest fled. Two AK 47 rifles, a mobile phone and a radio were recovered after the incident," he said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

In another Saturday attack in Taraka, also southern Somalia, according to Obonyo, an Improvised Explosive Device targeting KDF detonated prematurely.

"KDF troops disembarked and pursued the militia, killing two of them. Three AK 47 rifles and a mobile phone were recovered from the militia," he said.

The military spokesman said the latest incidents came after KDF troops taking part in the ongoing security operation in Boni forest, in Kenya's coastal region of Lamu foiled an attack on their operation base on Thursday by suspected Al-Shabaab militia.

"The assailants were pursued and three militia were killed. During the operation, KDF troops also found and destroyed the militia's makeshift operation camp," Obonyo said." In total, eight militants were killed following the three incidences while KDF suffered no casualties."

He said the Kenyan soldiers shall continue to pursue the militia and ensure that peace and security of all Kenyans is achieved, while they will continue to discharge its role to ensure that AU Mission to Somalia (AMISOM)'s mandate in Somalia is achieved.

The Al-Qaida allied militants have recently stepped up their attacks against government sites, African peacekeeping force, hotels and other civilian targets in the wake of renewed offensive by AMISOM troops. Endit