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US attacks al-Shabab militants in Somalia | US attacks al-Shabab militants in Somalia |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The US has carried out a military operation against al-Shabab militants in Somalia, officials say. | The US has carried out a military operation against al-Shabab militants in Somalia, officials say. |
The Pentagon is assessing the results of Monday's operation before releasing details, a spokesman said. | The Pentagon is assessing the results of Monday's operation before releasing details, a spokesman said. |
However a US official quoted by the American media said "a senior al-Shabab operative" had been targeted. | However a US official quoted by the American media said "a senior al-Shabab operative" had been targeted. |
The al-Qaeda-linked group lost control of Mogadishu to an African Union (AU) force in 2011 but still hold many southern and central areas. | The al-Qaeda-linked group lost control of Mogadishu to an African Union (AU) force in 2011 but still hold many southern and central areas. |
"We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate," Pentagon spokesman John F Kirby said in a statement. | "We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate," Pentagon spokesman John F Kirby said in a statement. |
Residents of Hawai village, some 240km (150 miles) south of the capital, Mogadishu say they heard three loud explosions and then saw thick black smoke rising. | |
One resident told the BBC he had seen the burnt-out remains of a car and three trucks but he was not able to see if there were any bodies inside. | |
The American action comes after al-Shabab rebels attacked a detention centre in Mogadishu on Sunday, in an apparent effort to free other militants detained there. | The American action comes after al-Shabab rebels attacked a detention centre in Mogadishu on Sunday, in an apparent effort to free other militants detained there. |
Somali officials said all of the attackers, as well as three government soldiers and two civilians, were killed. | Somali officials said all of the attackers, as well as three government soldiers and two civilians, were killed. |
The Pentagon and the US state department have supported the 22,000-member AU force that drove al-Shabab from their former strongholds in the capital and other urban centres. | The Pentagon and the US state department have supported the 22,000-member AU force that drove al-Shabab from their former strongholds in the capital and other urban centres. |
The militants continue to carry out bombings and assassinations in the city. | The militants continue to carry out bombings and assassinations in the city. |
Al-Shabab fighters want to overthrow the internationally supported Somali government and frequently attack government targets as well as neighbouring countries that provide troops to the AU force. | Al-Shabab fighters want to overthrow the internationally supported Somali government and frequently attack government targets as well as neighbouring countries that provide troops to the AU force. |
The group said it carried out last year's attack on the Westgate mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in which at least 67 people were killed. | The group said it carried out last year's attack on the Westgate mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in which at least 67 people were killed. |