This archive report was first published on 6 January 2020.
On January 5, 2020, al-Shabab militants launched a surprise attack on Camp Simba, a US military base near the Kenyan-Somali border, where the al-Qaeda-linked group is based.
The attack targeted the Manda Bay Airfield, a key military base that houses US and Kenyan troops. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, posting photos of a blazing aircraft on social media.
According to al-Shabab, seven aircraft and three military vehicles were destroyed in the attack. However, the US Africa Command disputed this claim, stating that the airfield was cleared and still being secured.
"Al-Shabaab has put out multiple press releases exaggerating the security situation on the ground. This practice has proven common place for this terror organization," the US Africa Command said in a statement.
It was unclear if any Kenyan or US forces were killed in the attack. Five suspects were arrested and were being interrogated, according to AP.
Al-Shabab's attack on the Manda Bay Airfield was the first known attack against US forces inside Kenya. The group has been the target of a growing number of US airstrikes inside Somalia during the Trump administration.
