US launches identification process after foiled al-Shabab attack

NAIROBI - The US army said Sunday it has kicked off identification process to establish the number of soldiers who may have been injured or killed in the daring dawn attack at an airstrip in coastal Kenya by al-Shabab terrorists.

The US Africa Command (Africom) which oversees American troops in Africa, however, said that initial reports reflect damage to infrastructure and equipment, reiterating the attack was repelled by US and Kenyan forces.

"An accountability of personnel assessment is underway. As additional facts and details emerge, we will provide an update," said the US military in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The US army confirmed that Manda Bay Airfield which has been in use by both Kenyan and US forces since 2017 has been cleared but not fully.

"Working alongside our Kenyan partners, the airfield is cleared and still in the process of being fully secured," it said and slammed multiple press releases issued by the militant group exaggerating the security situation on the ground.

This practice, Africom said, has proven commonplace for this terror organization but admitted that the security situation at Manda Bay is fluid.

"Al-Shabab resorts to lies, coercion, and the exertion of force to bolster their reputation to create false headlines," said William Gayler, Africom director of operations.

Gayler said it was crucial to counter al-Shabab where they stand to prevent "the spread of this cancer."

The Somali militants launched an attack on Sunday morning at the Manda airstrip which is adjacent to Camp Simba military base where U.S. forces provide training and counter-terrorism support to East African partners.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) which had earlier canceled all flights to Lamu until further notice following a botched dawn attack by al-Shabab militants said it has lifted the suspension, allowing normal operations to resume.

"KCAA wishes to notify aviation stakeholders and members of the public that after the early morning incident in Lamu County, the temporary closure of Lamu Civilian Airstrip operated by KAA has been lifted allowing for normal operations to resume," said Gilbert Kibe, KCAA director-general in a statement.