By Andrew Ross

NAIROBI, (AA): At least 19 suspected al-Shabab militants were killed when Kenyan armed forces allegedly countered an attack on a military base in the Somali city of Afmadhow on Wednesday, Kenyan military said.

“Today, Kenya Defense Forces soldiers operating under AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] foiled a planned attack by al-Shabab terrorists near the AMISOM and Somali National Army camps in Afmadhow,” Kenya Defense Forces spokesman Col. David Obonyo said.

Obonyo said Kenyan forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the militants in Afmadhow, which is located in Lower Juba region.

“Soldiers on patrol identified the militants and engaged them in a fierce battle; following the incident, 19 al-Shabab militants were killed and one technical vehicle destroyed, some of the arms and ammunition were recovered,” he added.

According to the spokesman, the intent of the attack was to cut off the Somali National Army from the Kenya Defense Forces camp.

On Jan. 15, al-Shabab militants overran a Kenyan military base in El Adde in Somalia, killing several Kenyan soldiers.

[Photo:Kenya soliders in Somalia under AMISOM. Creative-Commons]