Al-Shabaab claims killing 30 Kenyan soldiers in attack

Kenyan has been hit by deadly attacks since it sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight Al-Shabaab following a series of incidents in the border region.

News Keydmedia Online
14 December 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Al-Qaeda-linked Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab claimed it has killed 30 Kenyan soldiers during an attack in the northeastern region on Tuesday.

In a statement, Al-Shabaab announced its fighters ambushed Kenyan reinforcement forces en route to Konton village in Wajir county, where militants carried out a raid at a mosque. 

The KDF convoy was hit by a landmine followed by a gun assault which left 30 soldiers dead, according to the militant group. There was no independent source verifying the claims.

Kenyan's police rejected the loss of lives as a result of the Al-Shabaab raid in the border region, adding that the security forces have thwarted an attempt to storm the mosque in Konton.

Hilary Toroitich, who is in charge of police in northeastern Keny said a gang numbering five raided a mosque in the area and abducted at least 40 people during the prayer time. 

The target of the attack was an Imam who is a police reservist, according to Toroitich. The police succeeded to rescue the hostages taken by Al-Shabaab from the mosque after a shootout. 

Kenya has fallen victim to Al-Shabaab as it suffered deadly cross-border attacks since 2013 when the group raided Westgate shopping mall in downtown Nairobi, where 67 people died.

There have also been other high-profile attacks in the country, including those targeted Garissa university and Dusit D2 hotel, where dozens were massacred by the Al-Shabaab militants.

Somalia and Kenya share a porous 681km border which is prone to Al-Shabaab attacks. KDF crossed into Somalia in 2011 to fight the terrorists in an operation still on in Jubaland.

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