Jihadists from Somalia’s Al-Shabaab group on Sunday attacked a military base used by US and Kenyan forces in Kenya’s coastal Lamu region.
Lamu Commissioner, Irungu Macharia said, “There was an attack but they have been repulsed,”
According to Macharia, the attack took place before dawn at the base known as Camp Simba.
The Commissioner noted that a security operation was ongoing, but did not indicate if there had been casualties.
He said, “We are not sure if there are still remnants within,”
CGTN News noted that the fighters were trying to access the base from the airstrip. Gunfire and blasts were also heard.
According to reports, Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying they had “successfully stormed the heavily fortified military base and have now taken effective control of part of the base.”
The Lamu region, close to the Somali border, has been plagued by attacks from Al-Shabaab, with frequent strikes along the frontier notably targeting security forces with roadside bombs.
Read also: Somali President pledges speedy integration of security forces to fight Al-Shabaab
The group said there had been both Kenyan and American casualties, however this could not be immediately verified.
Al-Shabaab said the attack was part of its “Al-Quds (Jerusalem) shall never be Judaized” campaign, a term it first used during an attack on the upscale Dusit hotel complex in Nairobi in January last year that left 21 people dead.
Leave a Reply