A night patrol by the Kenyan Air Force in Lamu County turned tragic with the crash of a military helicopter, resulting in the loss of lives of the crew and soldiers on board. The accident occurred in the Boni Forest, known to house the terrorist group al-Shabaab, triggering an investigation to understand the circumstances of this tragedy.
On Tuesday, the Kenyan Air Force was struck by a devastating tragedy as a military helicopter crashed during a night patrol mission in Lamu County, along the northern coast of Kenya. The Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) confirmed the loss of lives, without specifying the exact number of casualties.
The accident happened as the crew and soldiers on board were participating in Operation Amani Boni, an ongoing initiative aimed at combating the al-Shabaab terrorist group, active in Somalia and occasionally operating in the Kenya-Somalia border region. The Boni Forest, situated in this area, is known to be a potential hideout for al-Shabaab militants.
Establishment of an investigative commission In the interest of transparency, the Kenyan military announced the creation of an investigative commission tasked with determining the causes of the accident. Investigators were dispatched to the scene to gather evidence and examine the details of this tragic incident.
Al-Shabaab’s insurgency in Somalia has escalated in recent years, especially since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a ‘total war’ against the terrorist group. Kenya, as a direct neighbor to Somalia, has also been affected by al-Shabaab attacks in the past.”
