Dhusamareb airstrike

Dhusamareb airstrike
Part of Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa
Type	Aerial attack
Location	Dhuusamarreeb, Somalia
Target	Islamic militants
Date	May 1, 2008 (2008-05-01)
Executed by	United States
Casualties	up to 30 killed 4 injured

The Dhusamareb airstrike took place on May 1, 2008, at around 3:00 am local time when an American plane dropped three large bombs on a house in the Dhuusamarreeb region in central Somalia. The attack was targeted against the Muslim militant group al-Shabaab.^[1][2]

The attack killed up to 30 people including civilians and two Islamist leaders, identified by al-Shabaab as Adan Ayrow and Sheikh Muhyadin Omar.^[3][4][5] Four others were injured.

Reactions

Bob Prucha, a US military spokesman, confirmed there was a US attack on a "known al-Qaeda target" and militia leader.^[6]

Mukhtar Robow "Abu Mansur", leader of al-Shabab, said: "It is true that infidel planes bombed Dhusamareb. This was an unprovoked attack, Aden Hashi Eyrow and Sheikh Muhyadin Omar are the most important Shabaab members who were victims of this foreign aggression... The death of Eyrow and Omar will not stop the struggle for the supremacy of Allah and the liberation of the holy land of Somalia. We will continue the struggle until the Somali people are free."^[6]

Paul Salopek, writing in the Chicago Tribune in an article entitled "U.S. appears to be losing its secret war in Somalia"', reported that jihadists had vowed to kill every foreigner in Somalia in response.^[7]

See also

• List of military strikes against presumed terrorist targets
• Manhunt (military)

References

1. ^ CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/05/02/somalia.airstrike.ap/index.html. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Air raid kills Somali militants". BBC News. 2008-05-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7376760.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
3. ^ France 24 | Eight killed in air strike on Somalia Islamists: residents | France 24
4. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey; Schmitt, Eric (2008-05-01). "U.S. airstrike kills top Qaeda agent in Somalia". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/africa/01iht-02somalia.12481389.html. 
5. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jMyI5wmKtzeAyf4pRC5wxN89Yjtw
6. ^ ^{a b} Al Jazeera English - News - Us Air Raid Kills Somali Fighters
7. ^ Paul Salopek (2008-11-28). "U.S. appears to be losing its secret war in Somalia". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008448575_somalia29.html. Retrieved 2008-11-30.  mirror

External links

• U.S. Airstrike Kills Somali Accused of Links to Al-Qaeda Washington Post May 2, 2008