Somali militant group al-Shabab says it attacked a military base used by U.S. and Kenyan military teams Sunday.The U.S. military’s Africa Command said initial reports reflected damage to equipment and infrastructure, and the situation remains tense.A cloud of black smoke could be seen rising from the military base in the coastal town of Lamu, along Kenya-Somalia border. The base hosts Kenyan and American forces.In a statement, the U.S. military command in Africa, known as AFRICOM, confirmed some of the smoke could have originated from the destruction of equipment at the base.Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia confirmed the attack and says the area is not yet secured.”Between 4 and 5 there was that attack at that military base, that airstrip. Our officers engaged those intruders, and it has continued up to around 6. But now the situation has calmed down, but the area is not still secure for us to go to that place. But normalcy has returned, and our officers are on the ground,” he said.An image distributed by al-Shabab after the attack on a military base in Kenya shows a Somalia’s al-Shabab militant holding the group’s flag next to a burning aircraft, said to be at the Manda Bay Airfield in Manda, Kenya Jan. 5, 2020.In a statement, al-Shabab said it had taken control of part of the camp, and it had inflicted casualties in the attack.Kenya Defense forces also said in a statement they fought off the attackers, and four militants were killed.One witness who didn’t want to be named for fear of reprisals spoke to VOA about how he was woken up by explosions, followed by hours of gunfire sounds.”We heard heavy explosions at around 4,” he said. “In the beginning, we thought this was a usual explosion we hear around the area Then we saw a fire and thick black smoke. Then for a while, it was quiet at around 6, then we heard gun attacks up to 8. It was at that time we saw a plane dropping something that looked like bombs.”Witnesses told VOA there was still a heavy security presence of in and around the area. Security officers could be seen asking some civilians to produce their identification documents.Richard Tuta, a security expert, based in Nairobi, says al-Shabab are seeking recognition as U.S.-Iranian tension grows after the U.S. airstrike that killed the Iranian Quds Force commander, General Qassem Soleimani.”They are aware currently the focus is on a retaliatory attack as a result of what happened in Baghdad. So to them, this an opportunity for them also to rebrand themselves internationally. That’s why despite the fact that they knew very well that they were going to lose, but they had to do it in order to rebrand themselves internationally,” he said.A Kenyan police officer observes motor vehicle traffic near the scene where armed assailants killed three people and injured two others in Nyongoro area of Lamu County, Kenya, Jan. 2, 2020.The attack comes days after al-Shabab fighters killed three people on a passenger bus in Lamu County.The area that borders Somalia has been the target of security operatons for the last five years.Al-Shabab has carried out wave attacks against Kenyan security forces and civilians in the coast and northeastern region.
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