Kenya’s army has killed 21 fighters from the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Army spokesman Col. David Obonyo said in a statement that the dead include junior al-Shabaab commander Salad Bart, who is believed to have been in charge of the group.
According to Obonyo, Kenyan soldiers on Tuesday clashed with al-Shabaab members in the Somali town of Hawina, where the terrorists were mounting an ambush along a major road.
No Kenyan soldiers were killed during the gunfire exchange,” he added.
However the army recovered 17 machine guns, five rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition.
Kenyan troops form part of a 20,000-strong African Union contingent helping Somalia battle al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with the international al-Qaeda terrorist network.
NAN