“We heard and saw a big explosion with black smoke everywhere. We believe it was an American drone,” charcoal laborer Geyle Abdi Farah told Somalia Report. He reported seeing the bodies of 21 al-Shabaab fighters and 14 civilians as well as at least 49 people who had been injured in the attacks.
Meanwhile, a TFG military officer in Lower Jubba region, who requested anonymity, told Somalia Report that the airstrikes did hit al-Shabaab camps, but could not confirm whether they were American drones or Kenyan military aircraft.
“We had information that two al-Shabaab main camps were shelled and destroyed, but I can’t confirm if they were drones or Kenyan helicopters. I think they were Kenyan helicopters since Kenyan forces and Ras Kamboni fighters are operating that area,” he explained. On Thursday morning, pro-government militias of Ras Kamboni and Kenyan military forces seized the strategic coastal district of Ras Kamboni near where the airstrike hit on Friday.
Ras Kamboni was one of the largest bases of al-Shabaab in southern Somalia and used for training new fighters. Ras Kamboni was the base of Sheikh Hassan Abdulahi Hersi (Hassan Turki), who is believed to be the teacher who founded the extremist Islamic group in Somalia.
At least seven airstrikes have hit in Lower Jubba region over the last five months, targeting al-Shabaab military camps The strike came after a day Kenyan President Moi Kibaki praised Kenyan soldiers involved in the operations against al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia and declared the government will do anything to secure Kenya.