AFRICOM Confirms Terrorist Attack On US Base In Kenya 

U.S. Africa Command has confirmed militants attacked a base used by U.S. forces in Kenya on Sunday. 

The Sunday attack was led by terrorist organization al-Shabaab at Manda Bay Airfield. 

UPDATE: Attack at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya – https://t.co/hme2WO4wyl pic.twitter.com/xMyFHm0R41

— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) January 5, 2020

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U.S. Africa Command said, “Working alongside our Kenyan partners, the airfield is cleared and still in the process of being fully secured.” 

It said the security situation at Manda Bay is “fluid.”

“Al-Shabaab is a brutal terrorist organization,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. “It is an al-Qaeda affiliate seeking to establish a self-governed Islamic territory in East Africa, to remove Western influence and ideals from the region, and to further its jihadist agenda. U.S. presence in Africa is critically important to counter-terrorism efforts.” 

There was no report of U.S. or Kenyan deaths. U.S. Africa Command said, “accountability of personnel assessment is underway.”

There were reports on Twitter that infrastructure and equipment on the base were heavily damaged during the intense firefight. 

Twitter handle Intel Air & Sea provided several pictures of a commercial twin-engine passenger aircraft engulfed in flames. 

Photos of one of the destroyed aircraft at Manda Bay https://t.co/Hww378V8ZV pic.twitter.com/fwfltToo9X

— Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) January 5, 2020

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Hot 96 FM Kenya tweeted pictures of dense black smoke rising from “Camp Simba army bases that hosts U.S. & Kenya soldiers in Lamu’s Manda Bay.” 

Suspected Al-Shabab militants attack Camp Simba army bases that hosts US & Kenya soldiers in Lamu’s Manda Bay, police say. pic.twitter.com/mCP3OwgfxQ

— Hot 96 FM Kenya (@Hot_96Kenya) January 5, 2020

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Here’s a closer view of the destruction, where a broadcast journalist with BBC News Swahili tweeted: “Al-Shabaab say they have launched a dawn attack on Kenya/U.S. military base in Lamu County. A suicide car bomb reportedly breached the entry to Camp Simba, Manda Bay. The explosion sent plume of dark smoke into the sky.”

BREAKING: Al-Shabaab say they have launched a dawn attack on Kenya/US military base in Lamu County. A suicide car bomb reportedly breached the entry to Camp Simba, Manda Bay. The explosion sent plume of dark smoke into the sky.
Photos ~ Courtesy pic.twitter.com/bMNNYW2ncY

— Roncliffe Odit (@RoncliffeOdit) January 5, 2020

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Al Shabaab claims it destroyed seven planes and three vehicles during the attack. 

AlShabaab officially claims destroying 7 Aircraft, 3 Vehicles, in ongoing attack in #US millitary base in #Lamu.

Kataib media publishes exclusive pictures in Manda bay base. pic.twitter.com/C5o5TtJ2MC

— In Mogadishu مقديشو (@mogadishu_boy) January 5, 2020

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Al Shabaab released a statement indicating there were “severe casualties on both # U.S. and #Kenya troops.” 

BREAKING: #AlShabaab statement say their fighters “inflicted severe casualties on both #US and #Kenya troops, destroyed US military aircraft and vehicles” following the Sunday morning attack on Camp Simba in Manda Bay, #Lamu County.
No comment from U.S. or Kenya officials so far pic.twitter.com/p2vIUs98io

— Morad News (@MoradNews) January 5, 2020

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“Imagery from Manda Bay #Keynya suggests at least two aircraft destroyed in #AlShabaab attack – one (#US Dash-8?) on apron [A] and one on taxiway/runway [B],” said Joseph Dempsey, a research analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Imagery from Manda Bay #Keynya suggests at least two aircraft destroyed in #AlShabaab attack – one (#US Dash-8?) on apron [A] and one on taxiway/runway [B] pic.twitter.com/Slu9K5iYSf

— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) January 5, 2020

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