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| Kenyan militant commander named as target of US Somali raid | Kenyan militant commander named as target of US Somali raid |
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| The target of a failed US navy Seals raid in Somalia at the weekend was a Kenyan who plotted attacks on parliament buildings and the UN headquarters in Nairobi, the Pentagon has confirmed. | The target of a failed US navy Seals raid in Somalia at the weekend was a Kenyan who plotted attacks on parliament buildings and the UN headquarters in Nairobi, the Pentagon has confirmed. |
| George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulkadir, also known as Ikrima, was the focus of the pre-dawn amphibious assault that was beaten back after a heavy firefight. The Pentagon identified Abdulkadir as a top commander in the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. | George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulkadir, also known as Ikrima, was the focus of the pre-dawn amphibious assault that was beaten back after a heavy firefight. The Pentagon identified Abdulkadir as a top commander in the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. |
| In an internal report by Kenya's national intelligence service, leaked to media after last month's killings at the Westgate shopping mall, Abdulkadir is named as the lead planner of a plot sanctioned by al-Qaida's core leadership in Pakistan to perpetrate attacks in Kenya in late 2011 and early 2012. Targets included the parliament, the UN and military bases if the plan had gone ahead. | In an internal report by Kenya's national intelligence service, leaked to media after last month's killings at the Westgate shopping mall, Abdulkadir is named as the lead planner of a plot sanctioned by al-Qaida's core leadership in Pakistan to perpetrate attacks in Kenya in late 2011 and early 2012. Targets included the parliament, the UN and military bases if the plan had gone ahead. |
| Abdulkadir is a Kenyan citizen of Somali origin, thought to be in his 30s. He is known to have lived for a time in Mombasa, Kenya, where he recruited fighters for al-Shabaab. He has travelled to countries including Eritrea, South Africa and Sudan, sources said. | Abdulkadir is a Kenyan citizen of Somali origin, thought to be in his 30s. He is known to have lived for a time in Mombasa, Kenya, where he recruited fighters for al-Shabaab. He has travelled to countries including Eritrea, South Africa and Sudan, sources said. |
| He came to Somalia in 2006 and was among a group of African fighters from al-Qaida who joined al-Shabaab, according to Mohamed Jibril, a former member of the Islamic Courts Union, a group of Sharia courts that held sway over much of Somalia before the rise of al-Shabaab. | He came to Somalia in 2006 and was among a group of African fighters from al-Qaida who joined al-Shabaab, according to Mohamed Jibril, a former member of the Islamic Courts Union, a group of Sharia courts that held sway over much of Somalia before the rise of al-Shabaab. |
| The Pentagon alleged that Abdulkadir was a close associate of Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who topped the FBI's most wanted list for planning the 1998 US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, and to have taken over his position on behalf of al-Qaida in east Africa following Abdullah's death in 2011. The Pentagon statement also linked him to Saleh Naben, and alleged that both men had played a part in the 1998 embassy bombings and the 2002 attacks on a hotel and airline in Mombassa. | The Pentagon alleged that Abdulkadir was a close associate of Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who topped the FBI's most wanted list for planning the 1998 US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, and to have taken over his position on behalf of al-Qaida in east Africa following Abdullah's death in 2011. The Pentagon statement also linked him to Saleh Naben, and alleged that both men had played a part in the 1998 embassy bombings and the 2002 attacks on a hotel and airline in Mombassa. |
| Little said: "While the operation did not result in Ikrima's capture, US military personnel conducted the operation with unparalleled precision and demonstrated that the United States can put direct pressure on al-Shabaab leadership at any time of our choosing." | Little said: "While the operation did not result in Ikrima's capture, US military personnel conducted the operation with unparalleled precision and demonstrated that the United States can put direct pressure on al-Shabaab leadership at any time of our choosing." |
| There are conflicting reports of how Ikrima survived Saturday's stealthy assault on Barawe by the same US navy Seal unit that killed Osama bin Laden. One source claimed Abdulkadir was inside the targeted house and sustained injuries, while his special bodyguard, a non-Somali, was killed. | There are conflicting reports of how Ikrima survived Saturday's stealthy assault on Barawe by the same US navy Seal unit that killed Osama bin Laden. One source claimed Abdulkadir was inside the targeted house and sustained injuries, while his special bodyguard, a non-Somali, was killed. |
| But in a voice recording posted on a pro-Shabaab website, its military spokesman Abdiasis Abu Mus'ab denied that any senior commander of the group was inside the house at the time. "We confirm that only security personnel were inside the house. No such high-target person was staying in the house." | But in a voice recording posted on a pro-Shabaab website, its military spokesman Abdiasis Abu Mus'ab denied that any senior commander of the group was inside the house at the time. "We confirm that only security personnel were inside the house. No such high-target person was staying in the house." |
| Fresh details of the unsuccessful raid emerged on Monday. An elder in Barawe, who did not wish to be named, said: "The attackers from the US first divided into two groups. Group one, comprising six men, stormed the house and began shooting the people inside it, while group two, also of at least six men, were staying outside the house. The worst shooting took place inside where one al-Shabaab fighter was killed. Al-Shabaab had more fighters inside and they fought extremely hard against the Americans." | Fresh details of the unsuccessful raid emerged on Monday. An elder in Barawe, who did not wish to be named, said: "The attackers from the US first divided into two groups. Group one, comprising six men, stormed the house and began shooting the people inside it, while group two, also of at least six men, were staying outside the house. The worst shooting took place inside where one al-Shabaab fighter was killed. Al-Shabaab had more fighters inside and they fought extremely hard against the Americans." |
| The elder continued: "The Americans tried to enter room by room into the house to start searching for the big fish but al-Shabaab got reinforcing fighters from other houses and then the situation deteriorated until the Americans retreated. We saw their boots on the ground and also one hand grenade and three rounds of ammunition left by the American forces." | The elder continued: "The Americans tried to enter room by room into the house to start searching for the big fish but al-Shabaab got reinforcing fighters from other houses and then the situation deteriorated until the Americans retreated. We saw their boots on the ground and also one hand grenade and three rounds of ammunition left by the American forces." |
| Unlike its Libyan counterpart, where a separate US raid led to the capture of an alleged al-Qaida leader, the Somali government did not initially object to the US operation. However, as the picture became clearer, some dissenting voices were raised. | Unlike its Libyan counterpart, where a separate US raid led to the capture of an alleged al-Qaida leader, the Somali government did not initially object to the US operation. However, as the picture became clearer, some dissenting voices were raised. |
| Dahir Amin, an MP, said: "It was unfortunate that US special forces entered into Somali territory. This violates the diplomatic protection which every nation in the world has. No country would agree to foreign forces entering its soil without known permission. I am ashamed that our prime minister speaks about the attack 48 hours later." | Dahir Amin, an MP, said: "It was unfortunate that US special forces entered into Somali territory. This violates the diplomatic protection which every nation in the world has. No country would agree to foreign forces entering its soil without known permission. I am ashamed that our prime minister speaks about the attack 48 hours later." |
| Amin called for the government to set up an inquiry into national security and for the interior minister to demand a more detailed explanation of the covert operation. | Amin called for the government to set up an inquiry into national security and for the interior minister to demand a more detailed explanation of the covert operation. |
| But Abdurahman Omar, senior adviser to the president, insisted that "the operation was a joint one and the federal government of Somalia was informed about the attack. The target was a big al-Shabaab commander, whom I do not want to name at this moment." | But Abdurahman Omar, senior adviser to the president, insisted that "the operation was a joint one and the federal government of Somalia was informed about the attack. The target was a big al-Shabaab commander, whom I do not want to name at this moment." |
| • This article was amended on 8 October 2013. As the result of an editing error, an earlier version described George Little as the defence secretary. He is the Pentagon press secretary. | |
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