By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
July 13, 2026 - Eleven Al-Shabaab militants were killed during an intelligence-led security operation conducted near the Kenya–Somalia border in the Esagur area after security agencies raided a makeshift terrorist camp believed to have been used to plan attacks targeting Mandera County.
The operation was carried out by the Special Operations Group (SOG) with support from aerial assaults.
Security sources indicate that the militants, estimated to number about 30, were reportedly preparing to launch an attack on a border village in Mandera County before security forces intercepted them.
During the operation, 11 Al-Shabaab militants were killed, while seven others sustained serious injuries. The remaining fighters fled across the border into Somalia.
Security officers recovered several items of ammunition belonging to the militants, including three PKM machine guns and approximately 409 rounds of ammunition from the camp, permanently disrupting the group's operational capability.
Security investigators also seized mandatory religious tax receipts used by Al-Shabaab to collect levies from communities under its control.
The recovered documents indicate a structured taxation and checkpoint administration system, reinforcing intelligence assessments that the group continues to operate an organised governance and revenue collection network in territories across the border.
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Security officials say the records provide valuable intelligence on how the militants finance their activities, procure supplies, and sustain operations while planning attacks against Kenya.
The latest operation forms part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts by Kenyan security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks operating along the Kenya–Somalia border.
Authorities have continued to intensify intelligence-led operations aimed at preventing cross-border attacks and enhancing the safety of residents in Mandera County and other parts of northeastern Kenya.
Kenyan counterterrorism remains steadfast in strengthening safety and security measures and showcasing an unyielding commitment to peace and the protection of all Kenyans from the threat of terrorism.