NAIROBI—More Kenyan troops have been deployed to Somalia to conduct search and rescue mission following last week’s attack on a camp in El Adde in the Gedo region of Southern Somalia.
According to press statement by the Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe, more boots have been deployed to conduct search, rescue and recovery operations in areas around El Adde camp where at least 60 Kenyan troops that are part of the African peace-keeping forces were killed in dawn ambush.
“The troops from various KDF divisions across the country were assembled and sent to the war-torn country to conduct operations in Al Shabaab bases at El Adde and other towns in the Gedo region,” Mwathathe said in the statement.
He said the troops were charged with the recovery of the military hardware looted from El Adde camp last week as well as destroy if need be.
“The latest ground troops from the infantry units, whose sole purpose is to fight and win land battles, are on their way to El Adde to reinforce several other soldiers currently engaging the militants in their hideouts near Gedo towns as fighter jets and attack helicopters continue to bombard the militants targets in Gedo and Baay regions,” said Mwathethe.
In previous statements, the Kenyan Defense Forces has indicated that it hit targets they said were Al Shabab hideouts although area elders say the air strikes have killed civilians. Kenya has deployed F-5 fighter jets in Gedo region to pursue the militants.
