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Kenya air raid targets al-Shabab militants in Somalia | Kenya air raid targets al-Shabab militants in Somalia |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least nine people have been killed and 50 wounded in a Kenyan air raid targeting al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia. | At least nine people have been killed and 50 wounded in a Kenyan air raid targeting al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia. |
A Kenyan military spokesman told the BBC the planes had targeted the outskirts of the town of Jilib. | A Kenyan military spokesman told the BBC the planes had targeted the outskirts of the town of Jilib. |
He said 10 fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group had been killed and dismissed reports of civilian deaths as "al-Shabab propaganda". | He said 10 fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group had been killed and dismissed reports of civilian deaths as "al-Shabab propaganda". |
But Medecins Sans Frontiers said it was treating civilians hurt in the attack. | |
'Camp hit' | |
Kenyan forces have moved across the Somalia border to target the group. | Kenyan forces have moved across the Somalia border to target the group. |
The country blames al-Shabab for frequent assaults on its security forces in the border province of North Eastern as well as a spate of kidnappings. | The country blames al-Shabab for frequent assaults on its security forces in the border province of North Eastern as well as a spate of kidnappings. |
"We received intelligence that a top al-Shabab leader was to visit a camp in Jilib so we conducted an air raid," Kenya army spokesman Maj Emmanuel Chirchir told the BBC. | "We received intelligence that a top al-Shabab leader was to visit a camp in Jilib so we conducted an air raid," Kenya army spokesman Maj Emmanuel Chirchir told the BBC. |
"Confirmation from the human intelligence is that 10 al-Shabab fighters were killed and 47 others wounded," he added. | "Confirmation from the human intelligence is that 10 al-Shabab fighters were killed and 47 others wounded," he added. |
He said that no civilian camp had been attacked. Earlier reports said that displaced civilians had been killed in the raid. | He said that no civilian camp had been attacked. Earlier reports said that displaced civilians had been killed in the raid. |
"This is all al-Shabab propaganda," he said. | "This is all al-Shabab propaganda," he said. |
But Medecins Sans Frontieres said in a statement on Sunday that its staff at a hospital in Marere were treating dozens of injured civilians following the aerial bombardment in Jilib. | |
The group said the attack struck a camp for internally-displaced people at around 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT) and that women and children made up most of the injured who were being brought to its facilities. | |
The hardline al-Shabab group, which controls much of southern Somalia, denies carrying out kidnappings and has warned Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia or face bloody battles. | The hardline al-Shabab group, which controls much of southern Somalia, denies carrying out kidnappings and has warned Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia or face bloody battles. |
The Islamist group is locked in a battle with the transitional government for control of parts of the country currently outside of is power, particularly in the capital Mogadishu. | The Islamist group is locked in a battle with the transitional government for control of parts of the country currently outside of is power, particularly in the capital Mogadishu. |
The government controls very little territory, but does have several militant groups around the country it regards as allies, and it is backed by the international community. | The government controls very little territory, but does have several militant groups around the country it regards as allies, and it is backed by the international community. |