31 militants killed in attack by Kenya's military in Somalia

Nairobi - Kenya's military says it has killed 31 al-Shabaab extremists in a raid in Baadhade district in southern Somalia.

The military said on Monday ground troops were supported in the Sunday raid by helicopter gunships and artillery fire to strike two al-Shabaab bases.

Kenya's military is part of the African Union Mission in Somalia bolstering the government against an Insurgency by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab.

More than 22 000 peacekeepers are deployed in Somalia in the multinational African Union force.

Al-Shabaab are fighting to establish a strict Islamic emirate in Somalia. Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds in south and central Somalia, al-Shabaab continues to launch deadly guerrilla suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks against government targets and African Union forces across large parts of the Horn of Africa nation.