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Al-Shabab militant base 'attacked' on coast of Somalia | Al-Shabab militant base 'attacked' on coast of Somalia |
(35 minutes later) | |
Islamist fighters in southern Somalia say Western forces have launched a raid from the sea on a militant base. | |
White soldiers are reported to have arrived by speedboat at the southern port town of Barawe before dawn. | |
Senior militants, said variously to be from Somalia's al-Shabab group or al-Qaeda, were reportedly targeted. At least one al-Shabab fighter was killed. | |
Al-Shabab claimed a deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping centre last month, which left at least 67 people dead. | Al-Shabab claimed a deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping centre last month, which left at least 67 people dead. |
Militants stormed the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi, on 21 September, in an act which caused international outrage. | Militants stormed the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi, on 21 September, in an act which caused international outrage. |
Both US and French special forces have carried out raids on coastal targets in Somalia in recent years. | Both US and French special forces have carried out raids on coastal targets in Somalia in recent years. |
There was no immediate comment on Saturday's alleged attack in Barawe from the Western-backed authorities in Somalia. | There was no immediate comment on Saturday's alleged attack in Barawe from the Western-backed authorities in Somalia. |
'Westerners in boats' | 'Westerners in boats' |
Reports speak of residents in the militant-controlled town, which is about about 180km (110 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, being woken by heavy gunfire before dawn. | Reports speak of residents in the militant-controlled town, which is about about 180km (110 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, being woken by heavy gunfire before dawn. |
Commandos rappelled from a helicopter as they tried to storm a house belonging to a senior al-Shabab commander, witnesses told AFP news agency. | Commandos rappelled from a helicopter as they tried to storm a house belonging to a senior al-Shabab commander, witnesses told AFP news agency. |
"I woke to the sound of the helicopter above the neighbourhood, then a few minutes later, there was fighting, gunfire broke out for about 10-15 minutes," a local resident said. | "I woke to the sound of the helicopter above the neighbourhood, then a few minutes later, there was fighting, gunfire broke out for about 10-15 minutes," a local resident said. |
"We don't know what exactly happened, but it was an organised attack targeting the house where some al-Shabab commanders were." No names have been disclosed. | "We don't know what exactly happened, but it was an organised attack targeting the house where some al-Shabab commanders were." No names have been disclosed. |
Local al-Shabab commander Mohamed Abu Suleiman told AFP that the raid had failed. | Local al-Shabab commander Mohamed Abu Suleiman told AFP that the raid had failed. |
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, described as al-Shabab's spokesman for military operations, denied that helicopters had been used in the raid, but told Reuters that "Westerners in boats" had attacked the group's base at Barawe beach. | |
One militant was killed, he said, in a report confirmed by Somalia's Jowhar news website. | One militant was killed, he said, in a report confirmed by Somalia's Jowhar news website. |
Militants rushed to the scene to capture a foreign soldier but were unsuccessful, the military spokesman added. | Militants rushed to the scene to capture a foreign soldier but were unsuccessful, the military spokesman added. |
'Senior leaders' | 'Senior leaders' |
Residents quoted by Jowhar also said the house targeted was believed to be sheltering senior al-Shabab leaders. | Residents quoted by Jowhar also said the house targeted was believed to be sheltering senior al-Shabab leaders. |
However, an unnamed Somali intelligence official told the Associated Press that the targets of Saturday's raid had been "high-profile" foreigners. | However, an unnamed Somali intelligence official told the Associated Press that the targets of Saturday's raid had been "high-profile" foreigners. |
Western navies tasked with fighting piracy patrol the seas off Somalia, which has been beset by conflict for more than two decades. | Western navies tasked with fighting piracy patrol the seas off Somalia, which has been beset by conflict for more than two decades. |
In 2009, US Navy commandos attacked and killed an al-Qaeda leader, Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, in a daylight raid on Barawe. | In 2009, US Navy commandos attacked and killed an al-Qaeda leader, Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, in a daylight raid on Barawe. |
Washington has also used drones in Somalia to support the government and African Union forces in their battle against al-Shabab. | Washington has also used drones in Somalia to support the government and African Union forces in their battle against al-Shabab. |
France carried out an unsuccessful raid to free a French intelligence agent in January. Two French commandos were killed and al-Shabab later reported that it had killed the agent. | France carried out an unsuccessful raid to free a French intelligence agent in January. Two French commandos were killed and al-Shabab later reported that it had killed the agent. |