Kenyan soldiers kill over 80 militants in Somalia

Kenya's military confirmed Friday its soldiers who are part of the AMISOM and Somalia National Army (SNA) killed more than 80 Al Shabaab insurgents near the port city of Kismayu in the southern part of the Horn of Africa nation.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman Colonel David Obonyo said the Thursday night attacks were carried out on two Al Shabaab bases in Jaamame, Magambo area, some 60 km northeast of Kismayu, and Shantaarmuut, 30 km northwest of the port city, Xinhua reported.

"During the offensive, over 80 Al Shabaab militants were killed and four vehicles fitted with machine guns were destroyed," Obonyo said.

He said the two Al Shabaab bases were used to launch attacks against the newly liberated town of Bula Gaduud, which remains under SNA and AMISOM control along Kismayu-Jamaame-Jilib road.

"AMISOM forces will continue with offensive operations to slush out Al Shabaab militias from their hideouts and ensure realization of a stable and secure Somalia nation," the official said.

This brings the number of the militants killed in the same town since early October to about 200 as the AMISOM forces step up their onslaught on the militia.

The AMISOM forces have been very active in the recent past after last year's attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Kenya's capital Nairobi, stepping up their onslaught to wipe out the Al Shabaab from the Horn of Africa.

However, Al Shabaab has vowed reprisal attacks in the country, mainly targeting security forces in border towns of northern Kenya where dozens of people have been killed in landmine and grenade attacks blamed on the militant group.