US troops’ ‘incredible heroism’ was key to repelling deadly Kenya attack, AFRICOM says

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US troops’ ‘incredible heroism’ was key to repelling deadly Kenya attack, AFRICOM says

 

By JOHN VANDIVER | STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 16, 2020

STUTTGART, Germany — A small team of U.S. troops demonstrating “incredible heroism and courage” were responsible for fighting off militants who stormed a base in Kenya early this month in a raid that killed three Americans, a top U.S. Africa Command general said Thursday.

An investigation is underway into events surrounding the Jan. 5 attack at Manda Bay Airfield in coastal Kenya, but an initial assessment credited quick action by U.S. forces for repelling al-Shabab fighters who swarmed the base, AFRICOM’s Maj. Gen. William Gayler said.

“We had a very small U.S. force following the initial attack absolutely repel the al-Shabab attackers away from the airfield. And they did that under fire,” said Gayler, AFRICOM’s director of operations. “A very small group of U.S. and Kenyans cleared every single building out at the airfield.”

https://www.stripes.com/news/africa/us-troops-incredible-heroism-was-key-to-repelling-deadly-kenya-attack-africom-says-1.615055