Security forces in Kenya neutralized six members of the al-Shabaab terrorist group on Wednesday, said officials.
In a statement to local media outlets, authorities confirmed that the operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Kenyan military, targeting the Kumba area of Lamu County.
Located on Kenya’s coast, Lamu County is approximately 341 kilometers (212 miles) northeast of the capital Nairobi.
The operation targeted a group of al-Shabaab militants in the expansive Boni Forest region. Among those killed was a foreign national whose identity has yet to be disclosed.
Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization based in Somalia, has been responsible for numerous attacks in the region, including some targeting security forces.
The motive behind al-Shabaab’s relentless assaults on Kenya stems from Kenya’s decision to deploy troops to Somalia in October 2011 in response to a series of kidnappings and security threats along the border region.
Kenya’s involvement in the fight against terrorism in Somalia has made it a prime target for retaliatory attacks by al-Shabaab operatives.
The deadliest attack on Kenyan soil by al-Shabaab terrorists occurred at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015 when gunmen stormed the campus, killing more than 140 students and injuring many others.