Kenya's military said Friday its troops serving under the Africa Union mandate in Somalia have killed 20 Al-Shabaab militants including an improvised explosive device (IED) expert who was the main target.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman Col. David Obonyo said the Kenyan soldiers under AMISOM operations struck the militants' operations and training camp at Sidimo, Gedo region in southern Somalia on Thursday.

"During the engagement, AMISOM troops killed 20 terrorists while others escaped with multiple injuries. Among the dead was Maalim Sheriff, an IED expert who was the main target," Obonyo said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He said 16 AK47 rifles, six IED, two pistols, eight RPGS, assorted ammunition and Global Positioning System (GPS) gadget were recovered during the operation.

Obonyo said Sheriff has been the architect of the various IED incidents in Gedo region in southern Somali and also the IED expert for Al-Shabaab's Abdi Zubeir Brigade.

Obonyo assured the public that the operation tempo against the insurgents will continue and KDF's resolve and commitment to fight the terrorists will be maintained.

The latest incident comes after KDF said its troops killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander and ten other middle level commanders in a major strike carried out in the Horn of Africa nation last week.

Obonyo said Mahad Mohammed Karatey alias Mahat Karatey, the Al-Shabaab deputy commander and overall head of the Alamnyat (Al-Shabaab intelligence wing) was killed alongside ten other commanders on Nadaris camp between Buale and Sukow on Feb 8.

However, the militants dismissed the statement, saying Karatey was still alive and that he was not targeted as claimed by the Kenyan army. Enditem

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