Somali jihadists attack Kenyan, US military base

NAIROBI: Jihadists from Somalia’s Al-Shabaab group yesterday stormed a military base used by US forces in Kenya’s coastal Lamu region, destroying aircraft and military vehicles, according to Kenyan police and army officials.

A group of attackers breached security at Camp Simba in the early hours but were repelled and four jihadists were killed, said army Colonel Paul Njuguna.

Al-Shabaab has launched regular cross-border attacks since Kenya sent troops into Somalia in 2011 as part of an

African Union force protecting the internationally backed government – which the jihadists have been trying to overthrow for more than a decade.

Lamu region, which includes the Lamu Island tourist hub, lies close to the Somali frontier and has suffered frequent attacks.

Njuguna said “an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip” at 5:30am but the attack was repulsed.

“Four terrorists’ bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe,” he said, adding that a fire had broken out but had since been dealt with.

An internal police report seen by AFP said two aircraft, two American helicopters and “multiple American vehicles” were destroyed at the airstrip.

Local police commissioner Irungu Macharia said five people had been arrested near the camp and were being interrogated.

It was not yet known if there were casualties among Kenyan or American troops.

US military officials confirmed the attack and said US and Kenyan forces had repelled the

Al-Shabaab fighters.

“Working alongside our Kenyan partners, the airfield is cleared and still in the process of being fully secured,” said the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a statement.

The nearby civilian airport at Manda Bay, which brings tourists visiting Lamu Island

– a Unesco World Heritage Site – was closed for several hours after the incident.

Al-Shabaab said in a statement it had “successfully stormed the heavily fortified military base and have now taken effective control of part of the base”.

AFRICOM accused Al-Shabaab of lying in order to create false headlines. The Somali jihadists have staged several largescale attacks inside Kenya in retaliation for Nairobi sending troops into Somalia as well as to target foreign interests.

The group has been fighting to overthrow an internationallybacked government in Mogadishu since 2006, staging regular attacks on government buildings, hotels, security checkpoints and military bases in the country. — AFP