Al-Shabab Fighters Attacks Kenya & U.S. Base
ADDIS ABABA – Al-Shabab militants have attacked today a U.S. and Kenyan military base in Kenya’s Lamu County used by US and Kenyan military personnel, said United States military.
The United States Africa Command, Africom, said in a statement that “there was an attack by the terrorist organization al-Shabaab at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, today”.
Kenyan and US forces “repelled the al-Shabaab attack”, Africom said in a statement that downplays Al-Shabaab’s “exaggerating” claim that the raid resulted in “severe casualties on both American and Kenyan troops”.
Al-Shabaab claimed they had destroyed seven aircraft and three military vehicles, without providing other details. It also published pictures of masked gunmen standing next to an aircraft in flames.
The attack sent a dark plume of smoke into the air, Abdallah Barghash, a witness, told Reuters news agency. Barghash was among the crowds watching the drama unfold on Manda Island from neighbouring Lamu Island, a top tourist destination.
Africom said the security situation at Manda Bay is now “fluid” and “an accountability of personnel assessment is underway”.
Manda Bay is an area where U.S. forces provide training and counter-terrorism support to East African partners.
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[image Al Jazeera]
