Reuters: Somalia seeks explanation after U.S. 'friendly fire' strike
Somalia's government on Thursday requested an explanation from the United States after Somali officials said a U.S. "friendly fire" air strike killed at least 22 soldiers and civilians in the Horn of Africa nation.
Officials in the semi-autonomous, northern region of Galmudug said a U.S. air strike killed members of its forces this week and accused a rival region, Puntland, of duping the Americans into believing those targeted were Islamist rebels.
Washington said the United States carried out a "self-defense air strike" after Somali troops faced fire from militants. It said nine al Shabaab militants had been killed but that it was looking into reports others may also have died.
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More News On Reports That A U.S. Airstrike Mistakenly Killed More Than 20 Somali Soldiers In The Northern region Of Galmadug
US airstrike hits 'wrong target' killing Somali soldiers, locals protest -- Africa News
Somalia:16 critically injured, 22 dead on US friendly fire -- Garowe
Somalia: US accused of killing 22 troops in air strike -- Al Jazeera
Somalia Demands Explanation for US Airstrike -- VOA
US airstrikes mistakenly kill 22 soldiers in central Somalia -- Global Times
Somalia says US air strike killed civilians not al-Shabab -- BBC
‘False tipoff’ triggered US airstrike on Somali regional forces – Sources -- Midnimo
US duped into airstrike that killed 22 Somali soldiers, local officials claim -- RT
USAF pilots - as a rule of thumb - NEVER accept strike coordinates form anyone who doesn't have American, Canadian, British, Aussie or NZ accented English. If this pilot or drone operator dropped his load on the heads of these Somalis based on dubious ground control, he'll spend some time in prison.
ReplyDeleteThat's not how it works in Somalia, Afghanistan, Lybia, etc.
DeleteWarlord A cozy's up to the CIA/SOF assets on the ground, build's a "working relationship", then convinces the CIA/SOF that Warlord B, or Tribe B is Tailban/al Quida/al Shaabb/ISIS,
When in reality, Warlord A is settling old scores with a rival, some going back 100 years or more.
http://m.csmonitor.com/2005/0126/p07s02-wosc.html
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The Christian Science Monitor
Sifting intelligence tips from vendettas in Afghanistan
Widespread tribal disputes still lead to bad information, frustrating both US Marines and Afghan villagers
By Lane Hartill, Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor / January 26, 2005
KHOST, AFGHANISTAN
For weeks, US forces hunted Hazrat Jamal. They came to his house in Sawai and bothered villagers, but he was about a half-hour away in Khost City selling cars. The Americans suspected he was tied to a recent bombing, one of a growing number in this unstable province.
But Mr. Jamal's neighbor, Shamsulrachman, suspects that the Marines were duped by bad intelligence. A hotly contested land dispute has pitted the villagers of Sawai against some local officials - some of whom work closely with US forces - and Jamal is fighting the case in court. With him out of the picture, Shamsulrachman says, the case would fizzle.<<