“‘The Islamists are hiding in the thick jungle and it’s only airstrikes that eliminate them from there. The strikes have been going on and are will continue until no terrorist survives,’ Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama “Jangali” told Reuters.”*
“There are so many dead bodies and animals in the village,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.
US attack in Somalia killed innocents-Arab League
CAIRO, Jan 10 (Reuters) – The Arab League said on Wednesday U.S. military action in Somalia had killed “many innocent victims” and demanded that Washington refrain from such attacks.
Somali officials said U.S. and Ethiopian aircraft struck new targets in Somalia on Wednesday as they hunted al Qaeda suspects and defeated Islamist fighters.
U.S denies reports of new Somalia air strikes
By Sahal Abdulle
MOGADISHU, Jan 10 (Reuters) – The United States, facing growing international criticism over an air strike targeting al Qaeda suspects in Somalia, denied reports on Wednesday it had carried out further strikes.
A Somali government source and a local lawmaker said U.S. planes struck several sites on Wednesday after an assault on Monday against a village where the suspects were thought to be hiding.
But an official in Washington denied more strikes. “There have been no additional attacks,” said one official.
U.S. government sources said U.S. ally Ethiopia, which defeated Islamist forces in a lightning war last month, had conducted further air strikes since Monday.
The Somali officials did not say how they distinguished between U.S and Ethiopian planes operating in the remote southern area where Islamists were driven after their defeat.
The government source said four new U.S. strikes hit areas near Ras Kamboni, a coastal village close to the Kenyan border long thought by Western and east African intelligence agencies to be a hideout and training camp for Islamic militants.
“As we speak now, the area is being bombarded by the American air force,” said the source, talking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
*As it appeared on 9 January 2007. It now reads:
“Somali Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama “Jangali” said: ‘The Islamists are hiding in the thick jungle and it’s only air strikes that eliminate them from there. The strikes … will continue until no terrorist survives.'”