In brief, looking into Kenya’s elite forces (KDF) successes since Somalia entry in October 16, 2011
The Kenya elite forces known as Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) since entry into Somalia on October 16, 2011 have recorded several successful operations against the militant Al-Shabaab.
Since the start of the Somalia battle, there are two notable and intriguing military operations in capturing of dozens of towns in southern Somalia.
1. Victory at the sea port of Kismayo: September 2012
This the most intriguing battle by KDF that led to the victory of the sea port of Kismayo codenamed ‘Operation Sledge Hammer’
The battle was conducted in the three battle groups comprising of KDF Special Forces through a seaborne landing military operation.
The organized battle saw the forces capture the port without much resistance as the Al-Shabaab militants had run away leaving only pockets which were overrun by the Kenyan troops.
2. Capture of the Badhadhe Town
Another notable battle by the Kenya’s elite forces inside Somalia is the one the forces captured Badhadhe town after five-year reign of the Al Qaeda affiliated Islamists’ Al-Shabaab.
Badhadhe, a small town in Gedo region of southern Somalia was captured by the elite forces after being under Al-Shabaab control for about years. Gedo region has been a strategic area used as attacks launching pad by the militants.
Badhadhe was captured by troops drawn from KDF’s Special Operations Regiment (SOR), which includes troops from a variety of Kenya’s best units.
Special Operations Regiment (SOR)
The highly trained KDF’s Special Operations Regiment (SOR) unit has grown since 2011 and continues to conduct successful operations without being detected.
The SOR unit is highly capable, well equipped and experts in weapons, intelligence gathering and battlefield medicine.
The unit was also used in special operation after the El Adde KDF attack in January 15 this year.
Special Operations Regiment (SOR) today other that make up the unit are 20th Para, the 40 Rangers Strike Force and the 30 Special Forces.
Other Operation
May 29, 2015, elite forces conducted a two-pronged assault on Bula Hawo district.
