al-Shabab’s last stand
Associated Press reports that Kenyan troops staged a pre-dawn assault on the Somalian port city of Kismayo today in order to root out the last elements of the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab. AP reports that the Kenyans are in control of the port facilities but not the entire city at this point. They also report that the Kenyans haven’t suffered any casualties yet;
“Al-Shabab fighters are on the streets and heading toward the front line in speeding cars. Their radio is still on the air and reporting the war,” resident Mohamed Haji told The Associated Press. Haji said that helicopters were hitting targets in the town in southeastern Somalia.
A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Cdr. Dave Hecht, said the U.S. Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, is closely monitoring the situation but that “we are not participating in Kenya’s military activities in the region.”
“The operation began five days ago with surgical attacks and gun placement at the jetty and warehouse,” Oguna said, adding that Somali national army troops participated in the assault.
It’s reassuring to see someone besides the US and a handful of our partners taking the fight to al-Qaeda for a change. I hope the Kenyans’ successes continue and their luck in regards to casualties holds.
Category: Terror War
The only way Africa stays free of the AQ influence is to take this action and drive them out. It is my opinion that AQ wants a return to the Caliphate and subjection of all the lands in North Africa to start and eventually the world by extension. It’s like Germany’s “lebensraum” on steroids.
Hope they catch that little sh!t Omar Hammami and bring him back to Daphne, Alabama for prosecution. But then again, he could already be in a shallow grave somewhere in the Horn.
C’est la guerre.
“I personnaly ordered the Kenyan troops to conduct pre-dawn assault on the port city of Kismayo” President Obama.
Who is to say that some of the Special Ops soldiers didn’t have a hand in either training them or “observing/mentoring” them from a distance.
Aren’t they in that region anyhow?
The L. Cdr. may say that no one is actively participating, but again there are other ways.
Good job nonetheless.
Tman, I would assume with his foreign policy in shambles from what is happening in North Africa if there was any American involvement in this success our President would be all over the news taking the credit.
“We are not participating in Kenya’s military activities in the region.”
OK for all those playing at home …
What he really was saying, “We are participating in Kenya’s military activities in the region by providing speacial operations LNO’s, logistics, intelligence, and training support to our partners in the Global War on Man Made Acts of Violence Used to Instill Fear and Advance a Politcal and or Religious Agenda (GWOT).”
AFRICOM is the reason why al-Shabab is gone!
@ Twist … Almost perfect ….
He would have said, “I am proud to report to the American people and the rest of the world, I personnaly ordered the Kenyan troops to conduct pre-dawn assault on the port city of Kismayo.”