This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6243459.stm

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
US Somali air strikes 'kill many' US Somali air strikes 'kill many'
(20 minutes later)
The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia against Islamist fighters, who the US believes includes members of an al-Qaeda cell. The US is carrying out further air strikes in southern Somalia against Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell.
The targets were reported to have been tracked by aerial reconnaissance and then attacked by a US gunship launched from a US military base in Djibouti.The targets were reported to have been tracked by aerial reconnaissance and then attacked by a US gunship launched from a US military base in Djibouti.
The US says Somali Islamists sheltered al-Qaeda operatives linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa.The US says Somali Islamists sheltered al-Qaeda operatives linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa.
The Somali transitional government says many people were killed in the raid.The Somali transitional government says many people were killed in the raid.
The air strikes took place a few days after the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia during the past six months, was routed by soldiers from Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government.The air strikes took place a few days after the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia during the past six months, was routed by soldiers from Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols Location of militias and US Navy patrols
The US accused the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they denied.The US accused the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they denied.
Target 'Boy killed'
The precise locations of the air strikes on Monday afternoon and Tuesday is not clear but is believed to be near Ras Kamboni, close to the Kenyan border. Witnesses told the BBC Somali service that the town of Afmadow was being bombed on Tuesday.
More bombing has been reported near the town of Afmadow, 250km further north. Afmadow is 250km north of Ras Kamboni, close to the Kenyan border, which was hit by air strikes on Monday afternoon.
The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania Somali interim president Abdullahi Yusuf href="/1/hi/world/africa/6243907.stm" class="">US fears Somali 'terror' ties href="/1/hi/world/americas/2549427.stm" class="">Fact file: AC-130 gunship There has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon that the air strikes took place, but correspondents say a statement is expected within hours. "My 4-year-old boy was killed in the strike," Mohamed Mahmud Burale told the AP news agency from near Afmadow.
"So many dead people were lying in the area. We do not know who is who, but the raid was a success," interim government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP news agency. The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania Somali interim president Abdullahi Yusuf href="/1/hi/world/africa/6243907.stm" class="">US fears Somali 'terror' ties href="/1/hi/world/americas/2549427.stm" class="">Fact file: AC-130 gunship
AP says three other civilians have been killed but these reports have not been independently verified.
There has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon that the air strikes took place, but correspondents say a statement is expected within hours.
"So many dead people were lying in the area. We do not know who is who, but the raid was a success," interim government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP news agency about Monday's raids.
"The target was a small village called Badel where the terrorists were hiding. And the gunship did hit on the exact target," he said, adding that Somali and Ethiopian troops were nearby."The target was a small village called Badel where the terrorists were hiding. And the gunship did hit on the exact target," he said, adding that Somali and Ethiopian troops were nearby.
Another village, Hayo, was also targeted.
The bombing is the first overt military action by the US in Somalia since 1994, the year after 18 US troops were killed in Mogadishu.The bombing is the first overt military action by the US in Somalia since 1994, the year after 18 US troops were killed in Mogadishu.
The attack was carried out by an Air Force AC-130, a heavily-armed gunship that has highly effective detection equipment and can work under the cover of darkness.The attack was carried out by an Air Force AC-130, a heavily-armed gunship that has highly effective detection equipment and can work under the cover of darkness.
After fierce fighting, Ethiopian and Somali forces said on Monday that they were on the verge of capturing the area, one of the Islamist's last strongholds, where many fighters were dug in. After fierce fighting, Ethiopian and Somali forces said on Monday that they were on the verge of capturing Ras Kamboni, one of the Islamist's last strongholds, where many fighters were dug in.
Many other Islamist fighters are in hiding across the country.Many other Islamist fighters are in hiding across the country.
Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf backed the US action.Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf backed the US action.
"The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania," he said in Mogadishu, a day after entering the city for the first time since the Islamists withdrew."The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania," he said in Mogadishu, a day after entering the city for the first time since the Islamists withdrew.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says the attack seemed to be an opportunistic attempt by the US to destroy an al-Qaeda cell that they had been tracking for some time.The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says the attack seemed to be an opportunistic attempt by the US to destroy an al-Qaeda cell that they had been tracking for some time.
HAVE YOUR SAY They can all leave us alone, we Somalis already have a full plate when it comes to wars Maheran Man, Melbourne, Australia Send us your comments The cell is believed to be behind the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and Dar Es Salaam, in Tanzania. HAVE YOUR SAY They can all leave us alone, we Somalis already have a full plate when it comes to wars Maheran Man, Melbourne, Australia Send us your comments The cell is accused of responsibility for the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and Dar Es Salaam, in Tanzania.
More than 250 people died in the two attacks.More than 250 people died in the two attacks.
The US also holds the same group responsible for attacks on an Israeli aircraft and Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya in 2002, in which 15 people died.The US also holds the same group responsible for attacks on an Israeli aircraft and Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya in 2002, in which 15 people died.
Meanwhile, the US military said on Tuesday it had sent an aircraft carrier to join three other US warships conducting anti-terror operations off the country's coast.Meanwhile, the US military said on Tuesday it had sent an aircraft carrier to join three other US warships conducting anti-terror operations off the country's coast.
Return to topReturn to top