MOGADISHU, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan soldiers who are part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) killed a senior Al-Shabaab commander and two of his bodyguards during a raid on his hideout in southern Somalia Wednesday evening, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said Hassan Isaack Ibrahim alas Beila was killed in a joint security operation with Jubbaland Security Force (JSS) in Gelef town.
"The body of the Al-Shabaab commander killed was displaced in Dhobley town today. The troops recovered AK 47, one grenade and his personal phone," a KDF official said.
Ibrahim was in charge of Gelef town and its environs. He is from Darasime sub clan of the larger Darood clan in Somalia.
The slain Al-Shabaab commander was responsible for most of the hijackings of miraa (khat) ferrying landcruisers along the Kenya-Somalia border.
The KDF official said Ibrahim was behind attacks of police posts along the common frontier especially in Diff, Hamey and general area of Dhobley.
The killing came hours after three Al-Shabaab terrorists were arrested in the Jubabland State during an operation conducted in Dhobley town.
Haybe Ahmed Abdullahi, Jubbaland State forces Commander for Dhobley town said the insurgents were planning to carry out explosive attacks in the town.
Abdullahi said that African Union forces' Kenya Defence Force (KDF) helped them to defuse explosive elements in which they seized from Al-Shabaab fighters.
Dhobley town is located at the Somali border with Kenya and is one of the towns which have enjoyed relative peace in southern Somalia.
