U.S. strike on Somalia takes out 'major Al Qaida target'
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
WASHINGTON — The United States has renewed military strikes on Somalia.
Officials said the U.S. Air Force fired air-to-ground missiles against targets in southern Somalia on March 2. They said the air force struck a "known terrorist target" in the village of Dhoobley near the border with Kenya, Middle East Newsline reported.
"We are talking about a major Al Qaida target," an official said.
Al Qaida remains in control of villages in southern Somalia. One of the Al Qaida commanders in the area, and believed to be the target of the attack, was identified as Hassan Turki.
"As we have repeatedly said, we will continue to pursue terrorist activities and their operations wherever we may find them," Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman, who did not elaborate, said on Monday.
This was the first known U.S. air strike against Al Qaida in Somalia since January 2007. The Pentagon has sought to prevent the resurgence of the Al Qaida-aligned Islamic Courts Union, whose regime was toppled by Ethiopia in 2006.
At least three missiles were said to have been fired at a house in Dhoobley. Reports from Somalia said the house was destroyed and at least four people were killed.
Whitman said the U.S. military has been operating in Somalia. He said Washington was working closely in military operations with whom he termed regional partners.
"We share common goals with respect to fighting terrorism," Whitman said. "We will continue to seek out, identify, capture and, if necessary, kill terrorists where they plan their activities, carry out their operations or seek safe harbor."