Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC} Security officers from the anti-terror police unit killed two terrorists during an ambush in Mandera on Monday.

According to the Counter Terrorism Policing, officers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG), acting on intelligence, launched an operation in the wee hours of the night in Mandera and ambushed the terrorists as they were planning to launch an attack.

The militants from the Al Shabaab terror group were reportedly planning to terrorise Kenyans using the Alungu-Elwak road, Mandera County.

Further, the police report revealed that the insurgents were in the final stages of planting explosives on the main road, in a bid to target civilian vehicles.

During the incident, a fierce firefight ensued, during which two militants were felled as others sustained serious injuries before fleeing into nearby thickets with officers in hot pursuit.

”Acting on credible intelligence, the elite Special Operations Group launched a pre-dawn operation on Al Shabaab militants who were planning to terrorise Kenyans using the Alungu-Elwak road, Mandera County.

The terrorists were also in the final stages of placing explosives on the main road, targeting civilian vehicles,” a police report confirmed.

“The terrorists were caught in the act of setting up the IED. A fierce firefight ensued, during which two militants were neutralised and others sustained serious injuries.”

The elite unit managed to recover two AK-47 rifles, a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) warhead, and a fully assembled IED.

Preliminary assessments indicated that the operation managed to avert a potential large-scale attack on civilian traffic in the area.

Meanwhile, authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kenya’s security forces through intensified operations and sustained efforts in the fight against terrorism.

In a related development, on the morning of May 8, the elite SOG neutralised an Al-Shabaab terrorist in Garissa while responding to the reports by locals of militants attempting to plant improved explosive devices (IEDs) along the Dadaab-Hagadera road, targeting civilians and security vehicles.

During the exchange of fire, one militant was killed, and three others were injured. Security officers also managed to arrest one of the suspects.

The authorities recovered several weapons from the scene, including a PKM machine gun, an AK-47, a pistol, a comms radio, and an IED remote

Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC} Five Qatar-based Indians were killed in a road accident in central Kenya on Monday evening as the bus they were travelling in overturned during a holiday trip. Several others are seriously injured and under treatment at various hospitals in Kenya, sources said.

The deceased have been identified as Geetha Shoji Issac (58), Riya Ann (41), and her daughter Tyra Rodrigues (8), Jasna Kuttikkattuchalil (30) and Roohie Mehrin (18 months old) – all natives of various places in Kerala.

Indian embassy in Qatar confirmed in social media post that a group of 28 Indians from Qatar were involved in the road accident killing five Indian nationals and injuring several others.

The embassy also stated that they are in touch with Indian Cultural Centre and Indian Community Benevolent Forum and other community organisations to coordinate the efforts to provide necessary assistance for those affected. The embassy can be contacted on 55097295.

Geetha Shoji Isaac (58) who is from Thiruvalla in Kerala, was a long time senior teacher at HOPE Qatar Centre for Persons with Disabilities.

Sources said that some of the injured are critical and have been receiving treatment at some of the hospitals in the local town while some of them have already been moved to hospitals in Nairobi.

Gulf Times contacted the tour operator from Qatar who had arranged the trip to Kenya. However, they declined to comment.

According to various news agencies, the accident took place in central Kenya as the bus was ferrying the tourists from Nakuru County to Nyahururu Thomson Falls in Laikipia County.

According to local eye witnesses the driver lost control of the bus which veered off the road and rolled and landed in a ditch in the Gichaka area, some 41km south of Nyahururu Town.

The Indian embassy in Qatar further said that the consular team in Kenyan High Commission is on the ground and is in close touch with the local authorities to extend all the necessary assistance and support The team in Kenya can be reached at +254 734916532.

Community leaders said that all the necessary assistance and arrangements are being coordinated with authorities here in Qatar as well as in Nairobi. Since the incident took place at a far off place it has been difficult to get information on time. However, the Indian High Commission in Nairobi is extending all the possible support in the efforts to assist the affected and the their families.

Wednesday 11, June ,2025 {HMC}  The Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu, Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Muungaab), has delivered a shipment of medical supplies to Community Defense Forces supporting the Somali National Army in ongoing military operations in the Hiiraan region.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Mogadishu on Tuesday, Mayor Muungaab reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to backing both national armed forces and local defense units in their fight against al-Shabab insurgents.

The mayor stressed the importance of continued support to ensure the success of military campaigns aimed at reclaiming territory from the militant group and restoring lasting stability.
“We stand firmly with our brave forces. This support will continue, and we are prepared to respond to any needs they may have in this noble fight,” said Muungaab.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Federal Parliament, the Secretary-General of the Banadir Regional Administration, and representatives from the Banadir Women’s Association—demonstrating broad political and civic backing for the national security effort.

Al-Shabab, a militant group affiliated with al-Qaida, has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than 15 years. It is designated a terrorist organization by the Somali government, the United Nations, the United States, and the African Union. The group regularly carries out suicide bombings, assassinations, and attacks targeting civilians, government institutions, and security forces.