The Kenya Air Force (KAF), conducted a long range airstrike that killed 13 Al-Shabaab militants in Jawaari village, Middle Jubba region on July 10. This is the 1st indicator that the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) are at advanced stages of conducting operations to strike and destroy Jiliib, the headquarters of the terror group. The terrorists operating base was completely decimated.
The airstrike targeted the Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabaab Mujahideen Movement, a rag tag Islamist terror group’s intelligence and militant operations coordination operations base situated a brief distance outside Jawaari. Middle Juba is an administrative region in southern Somalia. With its capital at Bu’aale, it is located in the autonomous Jubaland region. Middle Juba is bordered by the Somali regions of Gedo, Bay, Lower Shebelle, Lower Juba, and the Indian Ocean
Kenya has never conducted an airstrike that far, making it a very successful mission for the KAF. Intelligence assets confirmed the airstrike from both Al-Shabaab, OSINT, and SOCMINT sources. Pro- Shabaab Mujahideen Movement media reported the evening airstrike. Middle Juba is one of the terrorist group’s strongholds. It uses the region as a training, logistics, and intelligence operations bases.
KAF conducted airstrikes targeting Saakow, Jamaame in the South and Afmadow in the middle. Jawaari is quite close to Jillib the headquarters of the terror group. These events will worry the terror group and most certainly, influence them to start making moves to preempt or identify a new area to set up base.
