Bishaaro Hotel in Mandera on October 25, 2016 where Al-Shabaab
terrorists attacked and killed 12 Kenyans. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
The White House on Tuesday condemned recent attacks by
Al-Shabaab in Kenya and Somalia, and promised to work to “deliver a
lasting defeat to terrorist groups that seek to undermine regional
stability.”
A statement issued by National Security
Council spokesman Ned Price specifically cited Al-Shabaab's killing on
Tuesday of at least 12 people at a guest house in Mandera.
The
US statement also condemned the Somali insurgents' attack on an African
Union Mission (Amisom) base in central Somalia that, according to the
terrorists, killed 17 Djibouti soldiers.
“The United
States continues to stand with the people of Kenya and Somalia as they
work to strengthen their security and expand opportunity for all
citizens,” the US said.
“We will continue to work in
partnership with regional governments and Amisom to deliver a lasting
defeat to terrorist groups that seek to undermine regional stability,”
White House said.
The militants have also seized towns
in central Somalia during the past week following the withdrawal of
Ethiopian forces affiliated with Amisom.
Analysts say Al-Shabaab is stepping up operations with the aim of disrupting the election process now under way in Somalia.
For its part, the US has also been escalating its military involvement in Somalia.
About
300 US special operations troops helping Amisom and the Somali army
carry out more than half a dozen raids per month on Shabaab positions,
the New York Times reported on October 16.
The strikes involve both ground attacks and drone bombardments, the Times said, citing “senior American military officials” as its source.
US troops also often interrogate captured Shabaab fighters, the Times added.
No comments :
Post a Comment