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US confirms Somali missile strike | US confirms Somali missile strike |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US military has confirmed that it carried out a pre-dawn missile strike which killed a senior leader of an Islamist militant group in Somalia. | The US military has confirmed that it carried out a pre-dawn missile strike which killed a senior leader of an Islamist militant group in Somalia. |
A spokesman said the target of the attack in the town of Dusamareb was an al-Qaeda leader, but would not name him or say whether it had been successful. | A spokesman said the target of the attack in the town of Dusamareb was an al-Qaeda leader, but would not name him or say whether it had been successful. |
The strike hit the home of Aden Hashi Ayro, the military head of al-Shabab, which controls much of Somalia. | The strike hit the home of Aden Hashi Ayro, the military head of al-Shabab, which controls much of Somalia. |
At least 10 other people, including another al-Shabab leader, also died. | At least 10 other people, including another al-Shabab leader, also died. |
But local elders have said up to 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, according to unconfirmed reports. | But local elders have said up to 30 bodies have been recovered from the scene, according to unconfirmed reports. |
'Militia leader' | 'Militia leader' |
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the US Central Command confirmed it had attacked al-Qaeda militants in Somalia, but would not say whether it was an air strike nor name the intended target. | Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the US Central Command confirmed it had attacked al-Qaeda militants in Somalia, but would not say whether it was an air strike nor name the intended target. |
"It was an attack. If we say too much then we give away platforms and things that we use," CentCom spokesman Bob Prucha told the Associated Press. | "It was an attack. If we say too much then we give away platforms and things that we use," CentCom spokesman Bob Prucha told the Associated Press. |
This incident will cause a lot problems to US interests in the region and the governments who support the US, by that I mean its allies who are puppets Mukhtar Robow AdumansurAl-Shabab spokesman Profile: Somalia's Islamic 'lads'Q&A: Somali conflict | This incident will cause a lot problems to US interests in the region and the governments who support the US, by that I mean its allies who are puppets Mukhtar Robow AdumansurAl-Shabab spokesman Profile: Somalia's Islamic 'lads'Q&A: Somali conflict |
"It was an attack against a known al-Qaeda target and militia leader in Somalia," he added, giving no further details. | "It was an attack against a known al-Qaeda target and militia leader in Somalia," he added, giving no further details. |
An al-Shabab spokesman, Mukhtar Robow Adumansur, told the BBC that Ayro was killed along with another senior leader, Muhiyadin Muhammad Umar. | An al-Shabab spokesman, Mukhtar Robow Adumansur, told the BBC that Ayro was killed along with another senior leader, Muhiyadin Muhammad Umar. |
Considered a terrorist group by the US, al-Shabab began as the youth and military wing of the Somali Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which controlled much of southern and central Somalia in 2006. | Considered a terrorist group by the US, al-Shabab began as the youth and military wing of the Somali Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which controlled much of southern and central Somalia in 2006. |
When, at the end of that year, the UIC was driven from power by Ethiopian troops supporting the country's transitional government, al-Shabab melted away into remote and distant parts of the country. | When, at the end of that year, the UIC was driven from power by Ethiopian troops supporting the country's transitional government, al-Shabab melted away into remote and distant parts of the country. |
It has since re-emerged as a radicalised group of young fighters, who have been conducting an insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian allies, and attacking African Union peacekeepers. | It has since re-emerged as a radicalised group of young fighters, who have been conducting an insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian allies, and attacking African Union peacekeepers. |
The US has said al-Shabab is part of the al-Qaeda network, although analysts say it is impossible to accurately establish those links. Al-Shabab's leaders insist it is a purely Somali movement. | The US has said al-Shabab is part of the al-Qaeda network, although analysts say it is impossible to accurately establish those links. Al-Shabab's leaders insist it is a purely Somali movement. |
Ayro, its military commander, received training in Afghanistan in the 1990s and was an instrumental military figure as the UIC took control of Mogadishu. | Ayro, its military commander, received training in Afghanistan in the 1990s and was an instrumental military figure as the UIC took control of Mogadishu. |
The head of the BBC's Somali Service, Yusuf Garaad, says Ayro was considered by fellow militants as a soldier rather than a politician. | The head of the BBC's Somali Service, Yusuf Garaad, says Ayro was considered by fellow militants as a soldier rather than a politician. |
He never addressed a rally, was never seen at a public gathering and did not like to give interviews either, our correspondent says. | He never addressed a rally, was never seen at a public gathering and did not like to give interviews either, our correspondent says. |
But his name came into the public domain few years ago when a group of Somali warlords co-operating with Western intelligence agencies stormed his house in the capital. Two men were kidnapped from the house, but Ayro escaped unhurt. | But his name came into the public domain few years ago when a group of Somali warlords co-operating with Western intelligence agencies stormed his house in the capital. Two men were kidnapped from the house, but Ayro escaped unhurt. |
He also escaped a US air strike near the southern port of Kismayo a year ago with only a minor injury. | He also escaped a US air strike near the southern port of Kismayo a year ago with only a minor injury. |
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How the US planned the attack | |
'Horrific sight' | 'Horrific sight' |
The US military is believed to have used a combination of human informants on the ground and precision-guided missiles fired from offshore in the Indian Ocean. | The US military is believed to have used a combination of human informants on the ground and precision-guided missiles fired from offshore in the Indian Ocean. |
Locals said the missiles hit Ayro's home at about 0300 (0000 GMT). | Locals said the missiles hit Ayro's home at about 0300 (0000 GMT). |
"We heard a huge explosion and when we ran out of our house we saw balls of smoke and flames coming out of house," Dusamareb resident Nur Geele told the BBC. | "We heard a huge explosion and when we ran out of our house we saw balls of smoke and flames coming out of house," Dusamareb resident Nur Geele told the BBC. |
The house that was attacked was a small concrete villa and it has been destroyed- the sight is quite horrific Dr Ahmed MahdiDusamareb Hospital | The house that was attacked was a small concrete villa and it has been destroyed- the sight is quite horrific Dr Ahmed MahdiDusamareb Hospital |
"The house was totally destroyed to the ground, also other houses nearby," local elder Ahmed Mumin Jama said. | "The house was totally destroyed to the ground, also other houses nearby," local elder Ahmed Mumin Jama said. |
Dr Ahmed Mahdi at Dusamareb Hospital told the BBC he was treating eight civilians, including women and children, for burns and shrapnel wounds. | Dr Ahmed Mahdi at Dusamareb Hospital told the BBC he was treating eight civilians, including women and children, for burns and shrapnel wounds. |
"The house that was attacked was a small concrete villa and it has been destroyed," he said. "The adjacent houses which were made from traditional mud were also destroyed. The sight is quite horrific." | "The house that was attacked was a small concrete villa and it has been destroyed," he said. "The adjacent houses which were made from traditional mud were also destroyed. The sight is quite horrific." |
One of the women has since died, bringing the death toll so far to 11. | One of the women has since died, bringing the death toll so far to 11. |
An al-Shabab spokesman warned that there would now be revenge attacks. | An al-Shabab spokesman warned that there would now be revenge attacks. |
"This incident will cause a lot problems to US interests in the region and the governments who support the US, by that I mean its allies who are puppets," Mr Robow told the BBC, referring to Ethiopia which backs Somalia's interim government. | "This incident will cause a lot problems to US interests in the region and the governments who support the US, by that I mean its allies who are puppets," Mr Robow told the BBC, referring to Ethiopia which backs Somalia's interim government. |
"I am letting the citizens of the US and the allies know they are not going to be safe in this area." | "I am letting the citizens of the US and the allies know they are not going to be safe in this area." |
Are you in Somalia? Are you in Dusamareb? What do you think of the air strike? Send us your comments. | Are you in Somalia? Are you in Dusamareb? What do you think of the air strike? Send us your comments. |
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