Photo taken on Aug. 9, 2018 shows a wreckage of a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) vehicle in Lamu county, Kenya. At least six KDF soldiers were injured on Wednesday in a suspected al-Shabab attack in the coastal Lamu County. (Xinhua/Charles Onyango)
LAMU, Kenya, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least six Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were injured on Wednesday in a suspected al-Shabab attack in the coastal Lamu County.
KDF spokesman Paul Njuguna said the soldiers were on a routine security patrol when their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED).
"There was IED which injured six of our soldiers. Three of them are in critical condition but have they have been airlifted for specialized treatment. The injured are stabilizing," Njuguna told Xinhua by telephone.
The latest incident happened in the vast Boni forest that has been experiencing a lull of attacks in the past months due to various measures taken by authorities.
The attack also came hours after a military helicopter passed through the area while heading to Garissa County to deliver medical services.
Security team has since been deployed in the area to pursue the militants behind the attack at Bodhei area, Boni Forest.
Independent sources however said five soldiers were killed and six others wounded when their landcruiser ran over an IED in Kwa Omolo area. Witnesses said the vehicle was moving from Baragoni toward Bodhei and was extensively damaged in the incident.
However, Njuguna dismissed such reports, saying only six soldiers were injured in the attack.
The Boni forest is currently under a security operation dubbed the Linda Boni Operation which is meant to flush out al-Shabab militants believed to be hiding within from where they continue to launch attacks on various parts of the county and beyond.
The operation was launched by the national government in 2015 and is being conducted by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and other security agencies.
