US Special Forces Operations in Libya and Somalia

Alejandro Faini,

Editor (North America)

 

WASHINGTON — United States Special Forces launched two simultaneous operations in the capital of Libya, Tripoli and Baraawe, Somalia last Saturday. According to military sources both goals were accomplished and no American casualties were reported.

The operation in Tripoli targeted Abu Anas al Liby, member of al-Qaeda, who has been linked by American intelligence with the attack to the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam back in 1998 where more than 200 people died. Anas al Liby was surprised by members of the special forces at the moment he was leaving his house to attend the morning prayers, Liby’s wife witnessed the operation and also gave details of how Anas al Liby tried to reach for his gun located inside his car but was stopped by the members of the US military.

On the second operation, a team of U.S navy seals targeted a house where member of Al-Shabaab were hiding looking for a “high value target” described as one of the leaders of this group; this is the same group responsible for the attack of a mall in Nairobi where at least 67 people were killed last month.

Military sources described that in the operation the Seal members were under heavy fire from members of Al-Shabaab minutes after their arrival, this lead to the decision to withdraw to avoid civil and US casualties. It is also reported that the SEAL team killed several member of the Al-Shabaab group, but were not able to confirmed if they killed the main leader of this group.

Politicians of the Libyan government described the operation in Tripoli as illegal furthermore; the Libyan government requested a full clarification to the U.S government. On the other hand U.S official stated that the Libyan government knew about it.

George Little, a pentagon spokesperson reported that Anas al Liby was being held in a  “secure location” outside Libya.

 

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (United States Army)