Kenyan Forces Foil Al-Shabaab Plot, Kill Two Militants in Pre-Dawn Raid

MANDERA, Kenya - The multi-agency security teams, acting on credible intelligence, launched a pre-dawn operation on Al-Shabaab militants who were planning to terrorise Kenyans using the Alungu-Elwak road, Mandera County, officials said, while confirming the incident, Tuesday.

According to the officers, the terrorists were also in the final stages of placing explosives on the main road targeting civilian vehicles. It is the norm of the militants to plant explosives on major link roads within the northeastern parts of the country.

"The terrorists were caught in the act of setting up the IED. A fierce firefight ensued, during which two militants were neutralised and others sustained serious injuries before fleeing into nearby thickets with our gallant officers in hot pursuit," officials said.

"Recovered items include two AK-47 rifles, a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) warhead, and a fully assembled IED, averting a potential large-scale attack on civilian traffic." This successful operation highlights the continued commitment and vigilance of Kenya's security forces in the fight against terrorism.

The incident comes a day after the Mandera County leadership held a high-level meeting with the regional administration of Jubaland in Kismayo, with security within the region featuring predominantly during the encounter.

Jubbaland’s First Vice President, Mahmoud Sayid Aden, met with the Governor of Mandera County, Adan Khalif, in Kismayo to discuss shared security concerns along the porous frontier, where the al-Shabab militant group continues to threaten lives, trade, and regional stability.

Vice President Aden underscored the Jubbaland administration’s commitment to defeating al-Shabab and protecting civilians on both sides of the border. Kenya Defence Forces plays a critical role in the stabilisation of Somalia.

“We will not allow al-Shabab to disrupt economic activity or endanger the lives of our citizens and neighbors,” Sayid said after the talks, stressing the importance of maintaining open and secure trade routes for the benefit of communities who depend on cross-border commerce.

GAROWE ONLINE