Civilians killed as Kenyan jets bomb al-Shebab strongholds, eyewitnesses

Kenyan military jets bombed several strongholds of the Islamist Al-Shebab militia in the south of Somalia, killing dozens of people Thursday. Reports say there were many civilians among the dead.

Al Shebab fighters in Somalia Reuters

Witnesses said the hardest hit area was Rama Aday, a neighborhood near the south-western Somali town of Dinsoor.

There dozens of people who had gathered to listen a sermon delivered by an al-Shebab preacher were killed.

Not everyone present was a member of al-Shebab, resident Madey Ali told RFI.

Some were just civilians who gathered to listen the sermon, he added

Borow Mohamed, a witness in the area, told RFI that Rama Aday has a big training camp for Al-Shebab volunteers.

However the witnesses said the warplanes did not only target the training camp but also shelled other areas of the village where civilians were hurt.

A press statement released by the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) said that their forces, led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), have targeted Al-Shebab training camps and its senior commanders in the tri-border area between Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Bay region.

There was no immediate comment from Al-Shebab about Rama Aday attack.