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US FORCES STRUCK two militant targets in Africa yesterday, snatching a top Al-Qaeda suspect from the streets of Tripoli and launching a pre-dawn raid against a Shebab leader’s home in Somalia.
In Libya, US forces seized a militant known as Abu Anas al-Libi, a long-sought Al-Qaeda operative indicted in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
A separate raid in the southern Somali port of Barawe failed to capture the senior militant and it was unclear whether he had been killed, but a US official said several Shebab members were killed.
The Libya operation, however, appeared to be a success for the US military.
“As the result of a US counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al-Libi is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
A source close to Libi told AFP he was snatched by armed men in Tripoli.
Libi, who was on the FBI’s most wanted list with a $5 million reward, was indicted in US federal court in New York for allegedly playing a key role in the east Africa bombings.
The attacks left more than 200 people dead.
His capture ended a 15-year manhunt for a key Al-Qaeda operative, who was born under the name Nazih Abdul Hamed Al-Raghie.
It also paved the way for Libi, 49, to be brought to the United States to face trial.
“Capture of Abu Anas al Libi would represent major blow against remnants of al Qaeda’s core,” Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, wrote on Twitter.
Daylight
The operation took place in broad daylight with the knowledge of the Libyan government, a US official told CNN.
Libyan security services denied the claim, saying they were unaware of any kidnapping or arrest of the man.
According to the indictment, Libi and other Al-Qaeda members discussed an attack on the US Embassy in Nairobi as early as 1993.
He is said to have conducted visual and photographic surveillance of the mission that year.
In 1994, he allegedly planned to attack the mission as well as the building, then housing the United States Agency for International Development in the Kenyan capital, along with British, French and Israeli targets.
A US official said the operation in Somalia sought to capture a “high-value” Shebab leader, and that no US personnel were injured or killed.
The operation marked the most significant US assault in Somalia since commandos killed key Al-Qaeda operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in the same area four years ago.
It followed an attack by Shebab gunmen last month on the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead during a four-day siege.
“US personnel took all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties in this operation and disengaged after inflicting some Shebab casualties,” the official said.
Declining to identify the people who died, the official said that “even in these extreme operational circumstances, the US military is very cautious to minimize civilian casualties.”
Casualties
The statement was an acknowledgement of US authorities’ concern with the bitter anti-American sentiment fueled by civilian casualties in US military operations.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab had earlier claimed it was British and Turkish special forces that staged a nighttime sea and air attack on one of its bases, but Britain denied any involvement.
Insurgent leaders in Barawe, one of the few ports left in Shebab hands, said commandos rappelled from a helicopter and tried to storm a house belonging to a senior Shebab commander, but the assault failed.
The SEAL team approached and fired on the unidentified target’s seaside villa by sea, according to The New York Times.
Although the Shebab leader was believed to have been killed during the pre-planned assault, the SEALs had to withdraw before they could confirm the kill, a senior US official told the newspaper.
“The Barawe raid was planned a week and a half ago,” a US security official told the Times.
“It was prompted by the Westgate attack.”
Official
A senior Somali government official told the newspaper that “the attack was carried out by the American forces and the Somali government was pre-informed about the attack.”
Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP that commandos had stormed the beach by boat, but laid blamed on Britain and Turkey.
“The bungled operation was carried out by white people, who came with two small boats from a larger ship out at sea… one Shebab guard was killed, but reinforcements soon came and the foreigners fled,” he said.
“Where the foreigners had been, afterwards we saw lots of blood, so maybe we wounded some.”
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Great to see that this rodent was finally caught.
Good work USA. These Islamic nutters don’t care who they murder, tourists, shoppers, aid workers, the nationality or religion of their victims don’t matter as long as their bloodthirst is being satisfied.
Re ThomasFrancisMeagher.
You can’t say good job USA when you know the same US regime supports the very type of Islamic ‘nutters’ in Syria with John McCain actually meeting sone and being photographed with such terrorists in Syria.
Give it a rest Saoirse/B Lowe. You are a broken record of hate of the United. States. They did a good thing for all the world by taking out these guys. Don’t you have Chem Trails or Zionist plots or some other rubbish to rave about?
@Seoirse
Yesterday you were claiming that Westgate was a false flag operation. Today you seem to be acknowledging the fact that it was Islamic ‘nutters’.
Which is it?
They can run into their little rat holes but Seals love rats. There is a big difference shouting “god is great” while shooting up a shopping centre and facing well trained and dedicated men.
Seoirse the bullshitter formerly known as b Lowe
Re ThomasFrancisMeagher.
You can deflect off the matter at hand by personal attacks but the fact remains that your support of a terrorist regime for killing other terrorists is disturbing.
Re Mattoid.
I don’t know what to make of the Westgate attack yet. All I know is that everything I learned from the corporate media in the days after the attack on was mainly on the whole outright misleading and factually inconsistent.
Re ThomasFrancisMeagher.
Chem trails are a fact. Since you tried to ridicule me by stating Chen trails were some type of conspiracy it shows how much you actually don’t know about other matters occurring in this world.
Re Declan.
You gotta stop the low personal attacks. Try to come at me with facts and researched opinions.
Chem trails a fact? ?
Umm I think you may need to talk to mental health professional. Your kinda in same league as sinead o Connor.
But anyway back on topic excellent operation seemingly well researched and well executed with no loss of life except for the bad guys.
Id like to see more of these operations involving special forces from many western nations. Decapitation operations are way to go. Locate targets send in team of drones. More effective and costs less money and lives then sending in army. Just think if they held back on Iraq and Afghanistan and just picked off targets one by one.
Agreed, there’s a few bankers and a lot of politicians I’d like to send their way.
B Lowe, Why should I bother with facts and researched opinions with you as you don’t come up with any yourself?
So I will continue with the personal attacks. You deserve no better as you defend a regime that gassed its own citizens and that makes you a despicable individual.
Declan, do you just not want to know the in depth truth? Afraid?
Bread, so are you another one of those people with “in depth truth” as to what’s going on.
My eyes are open. I don’t fall for that BS. B Lowe is delusional.
Would you like to fill us in on what you know about Chem trails Saoirse?
I’ll do that for you matt. Vapour trails or chem trails is caused by cold air sucked into jet engine and heated tp very high temperature when ignited with fuel. This air is very condensed and dry and leaves a trail. The length of it depends on atmospheric pressure. For example morning and late evening where the temperature at 40k feet is colder you see longer tail. Midday in summer its shorter. On a clear evening this time of year is best time.
Oh btw im licenced too fly.
Re Mattoid.
I certainly will. I will link to some articles and the like later on and then you make up your own mind. I am on the road now.
Re Mattoid.
I’ve posted twice info on chemtrails. It’s not coming up though. I’ll try again. Maybe it was too big a post.
pleasure to hear a voice of reason in a sea of hypocrisy !! its mental they are supporting the islamists in syria and yet people tell you you are a raving lunatic for knowing what is actually going on !! people are so stupid its frightening !!
Great work by the US Special Forces.
When they say they’ll get the bad guys. They mean it.
Might take 15 years.
But they got him.
True but did they really want George W Bush as President?
The US can do this because they’re the good guys
That won’t be a popular opinion on here!
Ciaran it might be a unpopular opinion but you are entitled to it .
That won’t be a popular opinion on here!”
–
It wont – or should not be popular because it is not true – ie that US are ” good guys ” . The US government is biggest Terrorist organization on the planet . It protects its soldiers who commit war crimes . From My Ali to Iraq to Afghanistan. Many Irish have their heads in sand as regards US terrorism – too many
. Have a look at this video http://www.zcommunications.org/noam-chomsky-us-a-top-terrorist-state-by-noam-chomsky.html -
Ah jim jim jim jim what a pile of shite :) looked at it and no just no that site is soooo left wing it cant hide its hate for democracy. Hardly BBC analysis standard.
Id say the usa is the onlt reasin Europe is stable and we are not all killing each other. Kept the Russians out kept ww3 off the cards. Mind you seems to be a few socialists. …. scratch that I mean stalinists that would love to see the reds take over Europe. Somw fascists that would have love to see Hitler take over
Jim, if you can’t even spell Mai Lai you should shut the F up.
looked at it and no just no that site is soooo left wing it cant hide its hate for democracy. ”
– ironic – as Democracy is what the US hates – it would destroy their Elites if implemented in US or any country – and thankfully – not at BBC standard – where the Marrs and Paxmans give soft interviews to the likes of Blair et al .
The reason why European is stable is because of EU – which began as the Coal and Steel pact between Germany and France – to put their past behind them .
”Mind you seems to be a few socialists. …. scratch that I mean stalinists that would love to see the reds take over Europe”- u really don’t know what u are talking about !!
” Somw fascists that would have love to see Hitler take over”
true – and their great admirers of eg Hitler we re JFK and his father – and orhers
just no that site is soooo left wing it cant hide its hate for democracy”
Ironic – as the it is the USA that hates democracy – being an Oligarchy – and Democracy would finish it off – and Hopefully not at BBC standard where Mar and Paxmann operate their PR.
The reason the Europe is stable is because of the EU – despite its flaws .
”Mind you seems to be a few socialists. …. scratch that I mean stalinists that would love to see the reds take over Europe” -
u really don’t know much – do u – that’s way off
as for Hitler taking over – his many admirers included JFK and other US capitalists see this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3ei9ycAOdQ
should shut the F up–
wonderful language for a typo . why did u have no comment on the atrocious spelling of ” guardian ”??-
I have mentioned Mai Lai several times – why did u not say then that I had spelled it correctly -
— so u are reduced to personal abuse
Ha my spelling is perfecto. Its predictive text. But anyway yawn…. you ramble alot
They don’t have enough money to run their in country but they can carry out military campaigns all over the world.
It’s called, going beyond self serving. Those boat people are fleeing real neglect in many countries and the smug countries around them stand back.
A worthy hit, well executed.
I hope all SEALs got out in one piece.
Once again the US regime has shown it’s compete hypocrisy.
The US tried to kill or did kill a suspected terrorist here yet they have no problem harbouring Cuban terrorists in their own country and arming and supporting other terrorists around the world.
Hopefully people will be able to see through the propaganda. A terrorist is only a terrorist to the US regime if that terrorist is against US interests. If the type of terrorist is in some way for or beneficial to petty US interests then they will not be classed as terrorists.
It’s another sad day for International Law.
Saoirse, you should pick what you comment on more carefully. No right minded person will shed a tear for the vicious nutters who killed 68 in Kenya. There is no controversy here
@Seoirse
Do you personally consider the Kenya attackers terrorists?
Genuine question.
B Lowe, more hypocrisy from you. If the Syrian army were doing this you would say that they are doing a fantastic job wiping out these jihadists.? Wouldn’t you?
Re Mattoid.
If the attack occurred as stated in the media, then yes, they are terrorists and the lowest of the low. They should be arrested and tried and if guilty sentenced to jail. They should not be summarily executed without due process as the US regime has tried to do.
Re Declan.
It is a different matter. That’s a sovereign state protecting the country from a proxy invasion.
This is an illegal attack carried out by a regime(the US) without any due process
Seorise. “Summarily Executed?” How does one Summarily Execute people that want to die as Martyrs and refuse to surrender?
To Summarily Execute somebody they first must be unarmed or defenceless and secondly they must be under your control. Those Terrorists in Kenya were neither.
And as for these attacks how do you know that the Libyian Government hadn’t given the US forces permission for this Operation and as for the Somali operation there is no real central authority. Just a collection of Pirate/Bandit clans, Warlords and Terrorists.
Cuban terrorists hahaha :) brilliant.
Sooooo having been to Cuba. Having seen the way the people are treated. Shops with no selection. Toy shops with one doll. Pharmacy with just pack of plasters. People not allowed to travel freely with in country. Forbidden to leave country. A tyrannical government and a few brave countrymen move to the usa with dream of setting the people free. A dream to grant the freedom the current government does not allow.
Yeah sure terrorists. My god you really are mad. Thankfully the normal majority see the truth and we don’t wear tin foil :)
I wonder how people in the US would feel about Iraqi special forces doing a raid inside the US to capture people they thought responsible for atrocities in their own country during the invasion of Iraq? I am sure there would be outrage. Might is right, as they say…
US persues counterterrorism. Oh the irony.
Black Hawk down, over and out. Keep up the good work.
@jazz. Lay off the wine
At this hour on a Sunday he is either a raging alco or went to 9am and 11am mass ;)
The more America is killing these so called terrorists, the more they are creating them. The world is more unsafe and full of bloodshed since America has staged war against AlQaida or so called terrorist after 9/11. Who staged the drama of 9/11? can an islamist plot a sofisticated and archistrated plan of blowing twin towers and other strategic targets in USA by using aeroplans ?Who is Alqaida and who created them? Was Alqaida not fighting for USA against Soviet Union in Afghanistan in eightees? Is AlQaida and other islamic groups not creating problems against Syrian regime and who is supporting them….. This is Trick and then treat .. This not as simple as it looks.. Wake up guys..!
Indeed, we all need to wake up to whether there is hatred or love in OUR hearts and work from that place – that is the only way anything will get better… copying the brutality of your enemy is not the answer…
All pre fabricated bullshit created with one aim. To raise the US debt ceiling and ensure or enlarge the money supply to the military.
Colm, was the attack on the mall in Kenya all prefabricated BS as well?
My point is this is happening at a time when the US has to decide where it spends its money..17th of October, debt ceiling, military spending…and we only know what they did because they told us they did it..
The shopping mall murders are an atrocity and are inexcusable.
al-Qaida in the Islamic Magrathea and all the other jihadi nutters need to be eliminated. Imagine going to the shops as those folks in Nairobi did and having your little children slaughtered by some twunk shouting Ali Baba or whatever,get in and get ‘em Seals.
It’s AQ in the Islamic Maghreb. Magrathea is described here http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Magrathea although I am not up to date as to the spread of Islamic terrorisim beyond our solar system.
;-)
Well, it may be unpopular but I will say it: all killing is wrong, whoever is doing it.
No side in this has the moral upper ground, that is for sure. There is murder and atrocity and a deep disrespect for the dignity and lives of other human being on all sides. It is crystal clear to me as well that the US as the world’s superpower takes full advantage of its ability to crush any resistance to its will, and is ignoble in the pursuit of its ‘interests’. The accepted view is that vicious acts are OK to protect your country’s interests. They are not OK.
So we have a huge superpower crushing all resistance everywhere in pursuit of its own financial interests and entering and invading other territories at will on the one hand; and on the other we have people fired up by a sense of injustice for atrocities committed against what they perceive as a worldwide community of Muslims who feel free to murder and maim for that cause.
So what is the common denominator? Small minded and tawdry patriotism and them versus us thinking. The irony is that most are driven by religious belief systems with claims to a moral high ground, love and compassion etc.
Look at the big blue globe people and get over it. Stop perpetuating difference and division, suspicion and fear, and naked self-interest. The rest of us will all be better off when you do.
The yanks multitasking again……judge, jury and executioner all at one time…..
It’s nice to see that Islam is still the RoP
“On Saturday night, a terrorist entered the community of Psagot, north of Jerusalem, and shot nine-year-old Noam Glick in the neck at close range. The girl was badly injured, but is in good condition after surgery.”
Meanwhile business goes on as normal in the Sudan.
Bakri Abd Al-Aziz, spokesman for the Sudanese “Tamarod” movement is quoted as saying “”They say there are chemical weapons in Syria. That’s not true. The chemical weapons are in Sudan. Our people are being killed in Darfur. Thousands are dying in Darfur, and they say it is for the sake of religion. “
God is on our side……
have your say