Kenya jets pound militants in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya launched air strikes against Islamic militants in Somalia following an extremist attack on a Kenyan college that killed 148 people, a military spokesman said today.

Warplanes attacked positions of the al-Shabab militant group Sunday afternoon and early today, said Col. David Obonyo of the Kenyan military.

Al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia, claimed responsibility for the college attack Thursday in the Kenyan town of Garissa. Four gunmen died in the assault.

The air strikes occurred in the Gedo region of Somalia, Obonyo said.

“This is part of continuing operations, not just in response to Garissa,” he said.

Al-Shabab said it attacked students at Garissa College University as a reprisal for Kenya sending troops into Somalia.

French forces rescue hostage

PARIS — French special forces today freed a Dutchman held hostage since being kidnapped in 2011 by extremists in Mali, the government said. There was no immediate word on the fate of two men abducted at the same time.

The military said the rescue of Sjaak Rijke took place at 5 a.m. today in far northern Mali. French President Francois Hollande said some militants were killed and others captured. Today’s statement did not identify who was holding Rijke, but the Dutchman appeared in a video posted in November by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

By The Associated Press