Kenya Attacks Last Stronghold of Al-Shabab Militants in Somalia

Good to find that Gettleman is on the story:

Kenya Says It Has Captured Last Islamist Bastion in Somalia
By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN, New York Times, September 28, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan forces claimed on Friday to have captured Kismayu, the last major stronghold of the Shabab militant group in Somalia, which, if confirmed, could spell an end to the Shabab’s ability to control large tracts of territory and mark the beginning of an underground, and possibly just as dangerous, guerrilla phase.

Kenyan officials said their troops had staged a daring, midnight amphibious assault to storm the beaches of Kismayu, a vital port for the Shabab, with Somali allies in the boats alongside them.

“Operation Sledge Hammer executed as planned,” wrote Major Emmanuel Chirchir in a Twitter message on Friday morning. “Kismayu falls and under control.” He added: “All forces in good shape and spirit.”

Casting confusion over the outcome, the Shabab claimed not to have withdrawn and even bragged on Friday about destroying Kenyan armored vehicles.

“KDF cowards attempt to attack Kismayu from the sea but the courageous mujahedeen thwart their attempts,” said a message from a Shabab Twitter account late Friday morning (the two sides have fought pitched battles on Twitter many times before). “Kismayu remains firmly in the hands of the mujahedeen, stay tuned for updates.”

Residents in Kismayu said [....]

Kenya troops fight on beaches in assault on Somali rebel city
By Abdi Sheikh in MOGADISHU, Reuters, Sep 28, 2012 1:16pm EDT

Kenyan troops attacked the Somali port city of Kismayu on Friday, seeking to drive al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants from their last major stronghold and end a five-year rebellion.

The loss of the southern port would deal a huge blow to al Shabaab as it is a lucrative source of revenue and a centre for operations over areas it has controlled in Somalia since 2007, but by nightfall, it was not clear who was in control.

Residents said shelling had subsided after earlier fighting near a beach just outside Kismayu. No Kenyan forces could be seen in the city centre, where shops and businesses were closed and some preachers called on their followers to join al Shabaab on the frontlines.

"Tension is high. It is getting dark and yet no group controls the town," resident Ali Gelle said by telephone. "People are afraid shells will be fired and there's no hope of getting any food," he said [....]

Kenyan troops launch beach assault on Somali city of Kismayo
Residents shelter from the fighting as Kenyan army and Somali forces push deep into al-Shabaab stronghold

By Clar Ni Chonghaile in Nairobi, guardian.co.uk, 28 September 2012 04.30 EDT

[...] Residents, many of whom were hunkered down in their homes as the battle continued, said the attack came from the air and sea at around 3am local time. Some expressed fears the assault would signal the start of a wider battle for control of the strategic port among rival clan militias.

"It was an amphibious assault, delicate and … meticulously planned," Colonel Cyrus Oguna, a spokesman for the Kenyan military, said. "We have so far encountered minimum resistance," he added, saying there had been no casualties among the Kenyan troops or their Somali National Army (SNA) allies. The Kenyan army has also been supported in its campaign by Ras Kamboni, a local militia.

Abdi Buule, an elder in Kismayo, said Kenyan and Somali forces had pushed deep into the city.

"The people are worried. No one could go outside this morning, even the people could not cook their breakfast. The fighting is now going on," he said by telephone [...]

Earlier in the week:

Kenyan Amisom peacekeeper held after 'shooting dead six Somali civilians'
African Union offensive against al-Shabaab may be undermined by what Somali army spokesman calls 'deliberate killing'

By David Smith, Africa correspondent, guardian.co.uk, 25 September 2012

A Kenyan peacekeeper has allegedly shot dead six civilians in southern Somalia, casting a shadow over plans for a final push against Islamist extremists.

The soldier reportedly fired at a group of people who approached a defensive position that the Kenyan army had set up in the town of Jana Cabdalla.

Sunday's incident could anger the local population in the run-up to an offensive in the southern port of Kismayo, about 30 miles (50km) away, against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab.

Adan Mohamed Hirsi, a Somali army spokesman, said it had been "a deliberate killing", with two more civilians seriously injured, and called on the Somali government to intervene.

"This incident is very hurtful," he told the BBC's Somali service, saying a group of young men were shot outside a shop in the village of Janay Abdalla. They were reportedly queuing to buy sugar.

The Kenya Defence Force said the shooting happened shortly after al-Shabaab militants attacked Kenyan soldiers who were escorting people to collect water from a well in the village, killing one Kenya [....]