A Kenyan warship has fired shells at the Somali town of Kismayo, the largest remaining stronghold of Somali militant group al-Shabab.
The warship fired ten rounds of shells at the coastal town on Monday, apparently after being provoked by an al-Shabab gunboat.
"The warship that is shelling Kismayo: I don't think there are any other AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somali] countries in that have a warship there," said Kenyan military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir, confirming the ship's identity in an interview with VOA's Somali Service. "There's only Kenya."
Kenyan forces are part of the African Union coalition fighting al-Shabab in support of the Somali government. Kenya has vowed to drive militants out of Kismayo, and residents say some people have fled the city to avoid clashes.
Two years ago, al-Shabab controlled much of southern and central Somalia, including most of the capital, Mogadishu.
Since then, AMISOM, Ethiopian and Somali government forces have retaken control of most Somali towns and cities, which has raised hope for Somalia, which has not had a stable government in more than two decades.