This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
On January 10, 2020, a devastating al-Shabab attack occurred at Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, resulting in the deaths of three U.S. Department of Defense personnel, including one U.S. soldier.
AFRICOM commander U.S. Army General Stephen Townsend has ordered an investigation into the attack, sending two of his top generals, U.S. Army Major General Michael Turello and U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Leonard Kosinski, to Manda Bay to assess the situation and gather information.
"I want ground truth to assess the situation and hear from the troops to ensure they have what they need to accomplish their mission," General Townsend said in a statement.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, was carried out by fewer than 20 al-Shabab fighters who assaulted the Manda Bay Airfield, used by Kenyan and U.S. counterterrorism forces. U.S. and Kenyan forces repelled the attack after using indirect and small-arms fire for about an hour, according to an AFRICOM official.
Five attackers were killed in the counterattack, according to the Kenya Defense Forces. An East Africa Response Force of between 50 and 100 troops arrived at the Manda Bay Airfield on Sunday to augment security, officials said.
Manda Bay is a strategic location used by U.S. forces to train African partner forces, respond to crises, and protect U.S. interests in the region.
Al-Shabab, a Somalia-based militant group, has been responsible for several attacks in Kenya, including assaults on schools and shopping malls. The group has also been linked to a massive explosion in Mogadishu that killed more than 80 people.
"Al-Shabab is ruthless and must be dealt with," General Townsend said.
