African Union Assault on Al-Shabaab Strongold in Somalia
African Union Assault on Al-Shabaab Strongold in Somalia
Fierce fighting erupted outside Kismayo city and was continuing through the morning, residents and a Kenyan military spokesman said.
There was no immediate estimation of casualties.
The African Union offensive, which has been expected for weeks, involved land, sea and air forces, with helicopters strafing al-Shabaab emplacements and coalition reinforcements making their way to the city from the north.
Several hundred Kenyan soldiers staged an amphibious landing on Kismayo’s main beach at 2am on Friday, after launching off from Kenyan Navy ships patrolling close offshore.
“Kismayo has fallen, with limited resistance,” Cyrus Oguna, Kenya’s military spokesman, said.