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Kenya 'bombs al-Shabab bases' in Somalia | Kenya 'bombs al-Shabab bases' in Somalia |
(35 minutes later) | |
Kenyan fighter jets have bombed the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group in Somalia, killing more than 80 of its fighters, the African Union (AU) force in Somalia has said. | Kenyan fighter jets have bombed the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group in Somalia, killing more than 80 of its fighters, the African Union (AU) force in Somalia has said. |
The assault on the villages of Anole and Kuday was part of an effort to "liberate" Somalia from al-Shabab's grip, the AU added. | The assault on the villages of Anole and Kuday was part of an effort to "liberate" Somalia from al-Shabab's grip, the AU added. |
Witnesses said a third area along the Kenya-Somalia border was also bombed. | Witnesses said a third area along the Kenya-Somalia border was also bombed. |
Kenyan troops are part of the 22,000-strong AU force battling al-Shabab. | Kenyan troops are part of the 22,000-strong AU force battling al-Shabab. |
The militant group denied it had suffered casualties during the bombing campaign. | |
Last week, it said it was behind a deadly raid on the Kenyan coastal town of Mpeketoni, adding that such attacks were in response to the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia. | Last week, it said it was behind a deadly raid on the Kenyan coastal town of Mpeketoni, adding that such attacks were in response to the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia. |
'Troops ambushed' | 'Troops ambushed' |
Kenyan warplanes bombed al-Shabab bases in the villages of Anole and Kuday in Somalia's Lower Juba region, the AU force in Somalia said in a statement. | Kenyan warplanes bombed al-Shabab bases in the villages of Anole and Kuday in Somalia's Lower Juba region, the AU force in Somalia said in a statement. |
More than 50 insurgents were killed in Kuday and 30 in Anole as part of an on-going offensive to defeat al-Shabab, which had already lost control of 10 key towns, the statement said. | More than 50 insurgents were killed in Kuday and 30 in Anole as part of an on-going offensive to defeat al-Shabab, which had already lost control of 10 key towns, the statement said. |
"Our forces will relentlessly keep up the pressure on al-Shabab and we will employ all the means at our disposal to end their reign of terror," it added. | "Our forces will relentlessly keep up the pressure on al-Shabab and we will employ all the means at our disposal to end their reign of terror," it added. |
The BBC's Ibrahim Aden in the capital, Mogadishu, says witnesses have also reported air strikes around the village of Kulbiyo, near the Kenya-Somalia border. | The BBC's Ibrahim Aden in the capital, Mogadishu, says witnesses have also reported air strikes around the village of Kulbiyo, near the Kenya-Somalia border. |
Fighter jets intervened after al-Shabab ambushed a convoy of Kenyan troops, witnesses said. | Fighter jets intervened after al-Shabab ambushed a convoy of Kenyan troops, witnesses said. |
Clashes between the two sides lasted for several hours, they added. | Clashes between the two sides lasted for several hours, they added. |
Al-Shabab said a number of Kenyan troops had been killed and denied that more than 80 of its fighters had died in Anole and Kuday. | Al-Shabab said a number of Kenyan troops had been killed and denied that more than 80 of its fighters had died in Anole and Kuday. |
The bombs had fallen in empty forested areas, the group said. | The bombs had fallen in empty forested areas, the group said. |
Since 1991 Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control - a situation that has allowed lawlessness and piracy to flourish. | Since 1991 Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control - a situation that has allowed lawlessness and piracy to flourish. |
Since a UN-backed government was installed in 2012, a small measure of stability has returned to some areas of the country, but al-Shabab still controls many towns and rural areas of southern Somalia. | Since a UN-backed government was installed in 2012, a small measure of stability has returned to some areas of the country, but al-Shabab still controls many towns and rural areas of southern Somalia. |
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