Kenyan military jets bombed several strongholds of the Islamist Al-Shebab militia in the south of Somalia, killing dozens of people Thursday. Reports say there were many civilians among the dead.

Witnesses said the hardest hit area was Rama Aday, a neighborhood near the south-western Somali town of Dinsoor.

There dozens of people who had gathered to listen a sermon delivered by an al-Shebab preacher were killed.

Not everyone present was a member of al-Shebab, resident Madey Ali told RFI.

Some were just civilians who gathered to listen the sermon, he added

Borow Mohamed, a witness in the area, told RFI that Rama Aday has a big training camp for Al-Shebab volunteers.

However the witnesses said the warplanes did not only target the training camp but also shelled other areas of the village where civilians were hurt.

A press statement released by the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) said that their forces, led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), have targeted Al-Shebab training camps and its senior commanders in the tri-border area between Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Bay region.

There was no immediate comment from Al-Shebab about Rama Aday attack.

Source: rfi