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Kenyan security yesterday successfully repulsed a dawn raid on Manda Airstrip on Manda Island in Lamu county by Al Shabaab militants. 

The 5.23am attack was reportedly targeting nearby Camp Simba, a military base jointly used by the Kenyan and United States military personnel within the Manda Bay of the Lamu Archipelago on the western shore of the Indian Ocean.

In a statement yesterday, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), said four planes including two American helicopters and two light aircraft—one Kenyan caravan and an American Cessna were destroyed in the attack.

“Today, January 5, 2020 at around 0523hrs, explosions were heard from the direction of KNB Manda Airstrip. The ground has been secured however damages are reported,”  said the KDF statement, adding that multiple American vehicles at the airstrip were also destroyed.

The attackers were, however, killed in the explosion as four bodies of the suspects were found sprawling at the scene, the statement said further.

“…The airstrip is safe. Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip. The fire has been put under control and standard security procedures are now on-going,” KDF posted via their official twitter handle @kdfinfo.

Exaggerate situation

On their part, the US Africa Command said in a statement that it acknowledges  “…there was an attack by the terrorist organisation al Shabaab at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, today. US Africa Command and Kenya Defence Forces repelled the al Shabaab attack.”

 The statement added: “Working alongside our Kenyan partners, the airfield is cleared and still in the process of being fully secured.”

The attack comes in the wake of escalating tension between the United States and Iran following the killing of the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, in a US air strike.

Residents who followed the incident from the Lamu Island side reported seeing a thick cloud of dark smoke emanating from the scene shortly after the deafening explosion that was followed by sustained bursts of gunfire that lasted for hours.

Earlier, al Shabaab claimed responsibility of the attack in which they purported to have resulted in “severe casualties on both American and Kenyan troops”, claims which were the US refuted as mere propaganda.

“Al Shabaab has put out multiple press releases exaggerating the security situation on the ground. This practice has proven common place for this terror organisation,” the statement read in part.

Bolster reputation

“Al Shabaab resorts to lies, coercion, and the exertion of force to bolster their reputation to create false headlines,” said US Army Maj-Gen William Gayler, US Africa Command director of operations. “It is important to counter al Shabaab where they stand to prevent the spread of this cancer.”

Meanwhile, Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata said seven suspects were arrested in connection with the attack and vehicles believed to have been used by the attackers confiscated.

As a result of the attack, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) announced temporary closure of Lamu civilian airport before reinstating the services later in the afternoon.

“KCAA wishes to notify aviation stakeholders and members of the public that after the early morning incident in Lamu county, the temporary closure of Lamu Civilian Airstrip operated by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has been lifted allowing for normal operations to resume,”  KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe said in a statement.

Ejected from bases

The attack comes barely three days after a group of gunmen believed to be members of the Al Shabaab militia attacked a passenger bus at Nyongoro area near Witu town in Lamu county, killing three people.

Al Shabaab has continued a spate of bomb and gun attacks despite being ejected from their bases in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Baidoa, the Port City of Kismayo, Afmadow, and other areas years ago.

An intelligence report sent to security chiefs dated December 29 warned that the al Shabaab were likely to strike on the New Year eve.

 A total of 14 terrorists had planned to attack the officers escorting the passenger buses. Around December 28, the terrorists were arrested but their whereabouts are not known.