Four Al Shabaab leaders among 55 militants killed

Four Al Shabaab leaders have been killed in a drone attack by the United States.

The four, among them Ismail Jabhadi and Jaamaa Adhere, were killed Wednesday night during an offensive by the U.S. drones.

According to a statement by Colonel David Obonyo of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) public affairs, the attack took place at around 2Am at Juungal area located between Baardheere and Buur Hajje.

And yet in another attack, 51 Al Shabaab militants were killed during an engagement with KDF in areas surrounding Damasa.

Colonel Obonyo said those killed included several middle level commanders said to be behind the recent attacks in Mandera.

Eleven (11) technical vehicles were also destroyed during the attack. KDF forensic experts are recovering the bodies for identification.

The killing of the four Shabaab leaders and the 51 other militants is a breakthrough in the war against terrorism by Kenya and comes barely a month after 11 other militants were ambushed and killed by KDF officers in Lamu.

Last week, suspected Al Shabaab fighters attacked the Soko Mbuzi area of Mandera town killing at least 14 people and leaving 11 others injured.

Mandera County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo said the attack happened at about 2AM at Soko Mbuzi Village while the villagers were fast asleep.

The attacks on Kenya by the Islamists fighters has been on the rise since Kenya sent its military to pursue the Shabaab fighters in Somalia.

The attacks have seen the government roll out a plan to construct a security wall along the Kenya – Somalia border to stop the infiltration of militants into the country.

Mike Njenga contributed to this report