by CYRUS OMBATI
Monday July 10, 2023
Gen Ogolla addressing Kenyan troops in a camp in Mandera on July 9, 2023
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Francis Ogolla toured Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camps and Forward Operating Bases in the North Eastern region as part of morale boosting amid a new operation against al Shabaab terrorists.
Gen Ogolla visited Mandera, El Wak, Modika, and Gherille in a bid to engage the troops as well as assess their mission readiness on Sunday, officials said.
During the tour, he spoke with officers and soldiers stationed in the respective areas and made an address to the troops.
Gen Ogolla lauded the troops for their diligence in combating terrorism and ensuring sustainable regional peace and security.
“There is a need to engage local residents while conducting operations as they have information about the region and the criminal elements in their midst. We have your support to deter and defeat threats to security in the country,” he said.
He made the tour amid ongoing joint operations across the border in Somalia where local troops together with KDF and USA are bombarding the terror cells.
Officials said Ethiopian troops have also started an operation from their border point clearing the cells in a new push.
The operation named “Operation Thunder Strike” inserted commandos in Hagar area, captured and destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory and killed five terrorists including three Kenyans and two Ethiopians in the Sunday exercise.
At least 40 other al Shabaab terrorists had earlier on Sunday been killed in Welmarow area, a town 40 kilometres from Afmadow in the Lower Jubba region of Somalia.
Officials said five others, who included three Kenyans, were arrested alive in the operation.
The operation involved troops from Somalia, Kenya and the United States Military Special Operations.
The area borders Kenya-Somalia border, which the terrorists usually breach.
The attack, which took place at dawn, targeted a hideout where the terrorists were gathering and a weapons depot belonging to al Shabaab.
The forces, supported by airstrikes from international partners were able to completely destroy the hideout and depot, as well as kill the militants, including several high-ranking leaders, officials said.
The SNA and its international partners have been stepping up their operations against al Shabaab in recent months, in an offensive to eradicate the group.
The latest attack is a significant blow to al Shabaab and is a clear indication of the SNA’s determination to defeat the group.
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) in Somalia confirmed the attack to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), stating that at least 40 al Shabaab members were killed, including leaders.
Kenyan sources said the troops captured a minibus with 28 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) already assembled, several RPGs and AK47.
Kenyan shillings currency of approximately Sh200,000 was also retrieved.
The IEDs were to be used in Boni, Ijara, and Garissa, sources said.
KDF troops are under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Officials said the troops are inching closer to Xagar (Hagar) town in Lower Juba region.
Capturing Xagar could give the troops an advantage to be in a position to attack Buale, the official capital of Jubaland state, which has been under al Shabaab control for more than 15 years.
Buale is also the regional capital of Middle Juba, the only region entirely controlled by al Shabaab. And with the ongoing operation in parts of Somalia against the al Shabaab, Kenya expects the attacks in the border region will continue.
This is after most of the terrorists ran away to find refugee along the border where they cross for an attack.
It has forced Kenyan officials to mount an operation to also push off their escape.
The terrorists have been attacking places near the Kenyan border by using guns and explosives leaving dozens dead and many injured.