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US bombs Islamist town in Somalia US bombs Islamist town in Somalia
(about 8 hours later)
An Islamist-held town in southern Somalia has been hit by three missiles, fired by a US plane, local elders say. The US has launched an attack against a "known al-Qaeda terrorist" in southern Somalia, the Pentagon says.
A US official confirmed launching a strike against "suspected terrorists". The US bombed the area a year ago and residents say it was the same plane. Three missiles hit Dhoble town early on Monday, reportedly killing four people and wounding 20.
Six people were killed in the air strikes on Dhoble town and 20 wounded. People are fleeing the town, fearing more strikes. Residents say planes could still be seen flying overhead on Monday morning.
Somalia's Islamist insurgents seized the town last week and one of their leaders Hassan Turki was reportedly in the area over the weekend. Islamist insurgents seized the town last week and reports said a leader, Hassan Turki, had been in the area.
"We woke up with a loud and big bang and when we came out we found our neighbour's house completely obliterated as if no house existed here," local resident Fatuma Abdullahi told the BBC. Mr Turki is on the US list of "financers of terrorism".
Regrouping US Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman refused to give the identity of the target, whether the strike had achieved its goal or how the strike had been carried out.
The US anti-terror task force - based in neighbouring Djibouti - said it could not comment on the incident. The planes keep flying over us. They are so low that we're deafened by their engines Dhoble resident
But a senior US military official, who declined to be named, told Reuters news agency in Washington: "We launched a deliberate strike against a suspected bed-down of known terrorists." A US military official, who refused to be named, told the AFP news agency that at least one cruise missile had been fired.
Islamist spokesman Sheikh Mukhtar Robow said the US was trying to hit Islamist hideouts in the area. Meanwhile, Islamists have attacked the town of Bur Hakaba, leaving the local police chief and four others dead.
"The Americans bombed the town and hit civilian targets, thinking that they were Islamist hideouts. They used an AC-130 plane," he told the AFP news agency. The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the Islamists have adopted a new strategy of launching attacks outside the capital.
Somalia is the world's worst place for children, the UN says 'Hideouts'
A local politician, who did not want to be named, told Reuters that the missiles had US markings. Dhoble resident Fatuma Abdullahi told the BBC they were woken up by "a loud and big bang".
"When we came out we found our neighbour's house completely obliterated as if no house existed here," he said.
Another resident said: "Right now - in full daylight - the planes keep flying over us. They are so low that we're deafened by their engines."
"We are poor civilians living in a simple town - what have we done to deserve this bombing?"
Local official Ali Hussein told the BBC that many people were fleeing the town.Local official Ali Hussein told the BBC that many people were fleeing the town.
The border with Kenya has been closed for the past year.The border with Kenya has been closed for the past year.
Islamist spokesman Sheikh Mukhtar Robow said the US was trying to hit Islamist hideouts in the area.
"The Americans bombed the town and hit civilian targets, thinking that they were Islamist hideouts. They used an AC-130 plane," he told the AFP news agency.
Regrouping
The US bombed the area a year ago and residents said the same plane was again involved.
There have been reports that the Islamists have been regrouping in the area around Dhoble in recent weeks.There have been reports that the Islamists have been regrouping in the area around Dhoble in recent weeks.
Somalia is the world's worst place for children, the UN says
They were ousted from the capital, Mogadishu in December 2006 by government forces, backed up by Ethiopia, with some intelligence from the US.They were ousted from the capital, Mogadishu in December 2006 by government forces, backed up by Ethiopia, with some intelligence from the US.
Dhoble was the last town they held.Dhoble was the last town they held.
The US accused the Somali Islamists of harbouring those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenyan and Tanzania. The US has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti.
The US accused the Somali Islamists of harbouring those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Islamists denied this, as well as reports they had links to al-Qaeda.The Islamists denied this, as well as reports they had links to al-Qaeda.
Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991.Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991.
Last month, a senior UN official told the BBC that Somalia was the worst place in the world for children.Last month, a senior UN official told the BBC that Somalia was the worst place in the world for children.