• Latest casualties in Operation Thunder Strike were at least three Kenyan security police whose vehicle ran over an IED in Garissa.
• But military sources said they are making great progress in wiping out Shabaab hideouts, destroying weapons depots near the border and killing militants and leaders.
Image: THE STAR
At least three police officers on Monday morning were killed when their vehicle ran over an IED in Garissa county.
Eight other officers from the Special Operations Group were injured in the 3am attack, police said.
The bomb had been placed on the roadside in Kiwanja area and the police vehicles were on the move.
This is the latest attack on security officers, leaving 11 dead in less than a week in response to 'Operation Thunder Strike' to eliminate the terrorists in Somalia.
The injured were rushed to Garissa hospitals as the to hospitals in Garissa as the terrorists behind the attack vanished into the bush.
On Wednesday, at least eight members of the elite police Special Operations Group in an ambush by al Shabaab terrorists at Ogorwen location in Mandera county.
The officers hit with grenades in an ambush. Police killed at least 20 Shabaab militants in the clash.
SOG is a specialised group of police involved in operations against terrorists along main border with Somalia.
A sub-machine gun and an rocket-propelled grenade were among items recovered at the scene.
The attack occurred as Kenyan security ramped up operations against the terror group around the border to push out terror cells there.
The recent attacks have forced the government to suspend plans to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Ogolla toured KDF camps and Forward Operating Bases in the Northeastern region to build morale during a new operation against Shabaab.
Gen Ogolla visited Mandera, El Wak, Modika, and Gherilleon Sunday to engage the troops as well as assess their mission readiness on Sunday, officials said.
During the tour, he spoke with officers and soldiers and addressed troops about the importance of their mission. They are to receive more and better equipment and vehicles.
In their ongoing joint operations across the border in Somalia local troops together with KDF and the USA are bombarding the terror cells.
Officials said Ethiopian troops have also started an operation from their border point, clearing the cells in a new push.
The military campaign named ' Operation Thunder Strike' has inserted commandos in Hagar area, captured and destroyed an IED factory and killed five terrorists including three Kenyans and two Ethiopians in on Sunday.
Earlier on Sunday, at least 40 other al Shabaab terrorists were killed in Welmarow area, a town 40 kilometres from Afmadow in the Lower Juba region of Somalia.
Officials said five others, who included three Kenyans, were arrested in the operation.
The operation involved troops from Somalia, Kenya and the United States Military Special Operations. They gathered weapons and destroyed a Shabaab weapons depot.
The area on the border is usually breached by terrorists, despite efforts to put up walls fences and barriers.
The forces, supported by airstrikes from international partners were able to completely destroy the hideout and depot, as well as kill the militants, including several high-ranking leaders, officials said.
The Somali National Army and its international partners have been stepping up their operations against al Shabaab in recent months to eradicate the group.
The latest attack is a significant blow to al Shabaab and a clear indication of the SNA’s determination to defeat the group.
The Ministry of Defence in Somalia confirmed the attack to the Somali National News Agency , stating that at least 40 al Shabaab members were killed, including leaders.
Kenyan sources said the troops captured a minibus with IEDs already assembled, a number of RPGs and AK-47s. The IEDs were to be used in Boni, Ijara and Garissa, sources told The Star. ad
They recovered about Sh200,000.
KDF troops are under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Officials said the troops are inching closer to Xagar (Hagar) town in the Lower Juba region.
Capturing Xagar could give the troops an advantage and be in a position to attack Buale, the official capital of Jubaland state, which has been under al Shabaab control for more than 15 years.
Buale is also the regional capital of Middle Juba, the only region entirely controlled by al Shabaab.
Given the ongoing operation in parts of Somalia against the militants, Kenyan expects the attacks in the border region will continue.
Most of the terrorists find refuge along the border where they cross to launch attacks.
This has forced Kenya to mount an operation to thwart their escape
The terrorists have been attacking places near the Kenyan border with using guns and explosives leaving dozens dead and many injured.