Reports from Somalia indicate that the Kenya Defence Force (KDF), in collaboration with US military forces, engaged in a fierce battle with al-Shabaab militants near the port city of Kismayu, Jubbaland, Somalia.
The fighting, which occurred on Wednesday, February 22, involved air support from the American military and backing from Somalia government forces.
Sources suggest that drones were used to track the militants during the heavy fighting, resulting in significant losses for al-Shabaab, although the exact number of casualties has not been confirmed.
The latest battle against al-Shabaab comes just hours after Somalia inaugurated new President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who was sworn in at a heavily guarded ceremony due to threats of attacks by the terror group.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was among the guests from over 100 countries that attended the inauguration.
Al-Shabaab, which emerged in 2006 from the now-defunct Islamic Courts Union, still controls pockets of territories in Southern and Central Somalia despite being removed from major cities by allied forces in 2009.
The recovered account cited reporting by Tuko.
