Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Kenyan troops and their Transitional Federal Government allies were in a convoy taking supplies from Tabda to their colleagues in Beles Qoogani in the central sector when they were ambushed.
In the ensuing battle, the Kenya Defence Forces killed five militants, including a commander believed to have been in charge of the ambush squad.
Several rocket-propelled grenades and 800 rounds of ammunition were seized from the militants.
Two Somali government fighters are said to have been wounded and are being treated at an undisclosed location. The 17 wounded militants were taken to Afmadow for treatment.
Earlier in the day, Kenyan soldiers detonated an anti-tank mine on the supplies route.
The ultimate aim of Kenyan troops is to capture the port town of Kismayu and strangle the militants of their financial lifeline.
Somali government fighters have been installed in several towns to ensure that they are not re-captured by the militants.