The Geography and Defense of Kismayo Under Al-Shabaab
August 9 | Posted by David Goldman | Intelligence News, Military IntelligenceStrategic Intelligence has been critically following up on what kind of defensive positions the Al-Shabaab militants have placed in and around Kismayo to stymie a ground and aerial attack.
Al-Shabaab have been busy putting anti-aircraft equipment in place to ensure they fed off aerial attacks in and around the port city.
The south of Kismayu is a dense forest that poses a significant problem to attacking ground troops hence an assault on the sea-port can only be done from the front.
This means attacking forces KDF, will have to use the city’s main gate which is the road that connects Afmaddow to Kismayo, a reason why KDF had to take Afmadhow before marching further south.
Al-Shabaab have placed their defenses along and across a stretch of forest and human settlement 5-10 kilometers from the outskirts of Kismayu.
If KDF infiltrates this defense line then runs it down with little civilian causalities, the war will be over in a few days and Kismayo will have fallen.
In the south where Kenya navy has moved its flotilla, but they can’t come close to the land using ground forces and expeditionary forces due to mines laid by the militants.
Military Intelligence reports reports south of kismayu as a thick forest where Al-Shabaab have planted hundreds or thousands of mines.
KDF sent in mine detectors and destroyers backed by special forces but were repulsed with heavy RPG fires slowing their operation to destroy the mines.
The approach of kismayu is one way and thats from north and it means through the road and terrain from the afmadhow direction.
Naval fire will neutralize defenses in the south and the coast besides strategic defense assets in the city using missiles.
On the ground, the heavily fortified areas where civilians are human shields will require urban warfare strategy with special forces backed by the air Calvary battalion leading a joint task force.
In Kismayu, Al-Shabaab are using the geography of the city to keep off the KDF soldiers thinking but the Kenya Army is already starving the city and mapping it out for strategic and surgical strikes to destroy these defense.
