On Sunday and Monday,the Kenya Air Force conducted air strikes on two al-Shabaab camps just over the border in the Gedo region of Western Somalia,Kenya Defence Forces spokesman Colonel David Obongo said.The raids were carried out in response to al-Shabaab's horrific attack on Garissa University College last Thursday,in which the Islamist extremists killed 148 non-Muslim people,most of them Christian students.The raids were also part of an ongoing strategy against the militants.Garissa is located about 200 kilometers/120 miles from the border with Somalia,which is 700 km long.
An initial raid on the camps,which serve as arms caches and logistical support centres,took place on Sunday;a second sortie was carried out early Monday after more activity was noted in the camps.
The KDF's aerial images show the camps were completely destroyed;but cloud cover made it difficult to estimate the death toll,according to COL Obongo.Al-Shabaab denied that any of its camps were damaged in the raids,saying the bombs hit farm land.*
In 2013,al Shabaab killed 67 people in an assault on Westgate Mall in Nairobi.The jihadi group swore allegiance to al-Qaida in 2012.It was estimated to have about 7,000 fighters in 2014,including foreign fighters.The US has struck at the organisation several times with drone strikes and air strikes,killing some of its leaders,including Moktar Ali Zubayr on 1 September 2014.Their current leader is Ahmad Umar.The militant group is also allied with al-Qaida in the Arabian Penninsula,which is active in Yemen.Al-Shabaab is additionally suspected of having ties with al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and Boko Haram,the ISIL affiliate in Nigeria.*
The Kenya Air Force flies the Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter,an aircraft still used for training by the US Navy and Marine Corps,and is flown by the Swiss,Taiwan and Honduran air forces as well.
Showing posts with label Al-Shabab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Al-Shabab. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Afghanistan:US Counterterrorism Combat Will Continue;Air Strike in Somalia
On Sunday,28 December,Operation Enduring Freedom ended after 13 years of the Afghan War that cost the lives of more than 2,000 US troops.Some 10,800 US troops will remain until America's allies up their contribution;then 9800 US troops will provide the bulk of NATO's Operation Resolute Support,which will have an end strength of 13,500.The US will share an advise,assist and training mission with its NATO allies;but will handle counterterrorism combat operations on its own under the name Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
US troops will continue to engage in combat with al Qaida militants in Afghanistan still posing a national security risk to the United States.Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement that we will work with our allies and partners as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission to continue training,advising and assisting Afghan security forces.And we will continue our counterterrorism mission against the remnants of al Qaida to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used to stage attacks against our homeland.
General John Campbell,US Army,is commander of both NATO's Operation Resolute Support and America's Operation Freedom's Sentinel.The Afghan National Security Forces number more than 350,000 troops and police,and have shown themselves to be fairly competent in combat and security operations after extensive training,though deficient in logistics and airpower against a Taliban and al Qaida enemy that remain determined and dangerous to the fledgling Afghan democracy.*
Meanwhile,the US continues to combat Islamist militants in Somalia as well.Today it conducted an airstrike on a leader of the al-Shabab organization near Saakow,Somalia.The militant's identity was not revealed;nor had the effectiveness of the strike been ascertained;it was still being assessed.Al-Shabab is an al Qaida affiliate.
Update:On Wednesday 31 December,the Pentagon stated that the Somali Islamist militant leader targeted in Monday's airstrike had been killed when his vehicle was struck by several Hellfire missiles fired by a drone.The strike had been triggered by actionable intelligence.The leader killed was Tahliil Abdishakur,chief of al-Shabab's intelligence section.
US troops will continue to engage in combat with al Qaida militants in Afghanistan still posing a national security risk to the United States.Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement that we will work with our allies and partners as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission to continue training,advising and assisting Afghan security forces.And we will continue our counterterrorism mission against the remnants of al Qaida to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used to stage attacks against our homeland.
General John Campbell,US Army,is commander of both NATO's Operation Resolute Support and America's Operation Freedom's Sentinel.The Afghan National Security Forces number more than 350,000 troops and police,and have shown themselves to be fairly competent in combat and security operations after extensive training,though deficient in logistics and airpower against a Taliban and al Qaida enemy that remain determined and dangerous to the fledgling Afghan democracy.*
Meanwhile,the US continues to combat Islamist militants in Somalia as well.Today it conducted an airstrike on a leader of the al-Shabab organization near Saakow,Somalia.The militant's identity was not revealed;nor had the effectiveness of the strike been ascertained;it was still being assessed.Al-Shabab is an al Qaida affiliate.
Update:On Wednesday 31 December,the Pentagon stated that the Somali Islamist militant leader targeted in Monday's airstrike had been killed when his vehicle was struck by several Hellfire missiles fired by a drone.The strike had been triggered by actionable intelligence.The leader killed was Tahliil Abdishakur,chief of al-Shabab's intelligence section.
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