On January 7th, U.S. Special Operations forces launched a pair of air strikes on Somalia. The Somali transitional government says many people were killed when an AC- 130 gunship rained gunfire down on the village of Badel. The Pentagon confirmed that the US struck southern Somalia and claimed the target was "al-Qaeda leadership" believed to be in the area.

The strikes come just weeks after U.S.-backed Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia and overthrew the Union of Islamic Courts. The attack is the first overt U.S. military action in Somalia since American troops departed the country in 1993 following the infamous "Black Hawk Down" episode. Reports have also emerged that suggest U.S. Special Forces and CIA paramilitary teams are now directly embedded with Ethiopian forces in Somalia. Earlier this year, the CIA was accused of backing a group of Somali warlords.

On January 9th, men firing rockets and throwing grenades attacked an Ethiopian military camp in Mogadishu. A large explosion was also heard as the sound of gunfire echoed through the city. The fugitive leaders of the Islamic courts have repeatedly said that they will launch a guerrilla war against the troops of Ethiopia. more

Despite mounting international criticism, US warplanes conducted more air strikes in southern Somalia on Wednesday, January 10th, while the Somali deputy prime minister invited American ground troops into the Horn of Africa country. more

More US Somalia Strikes, World Angry | US Bombards Somalia For Third Day | Fighting erupts in Mogadishu | Democracy Now Report | US Somali air strikes 'kill many' | United States bombing of Somali village | No threat, No attack - but US opens fire in Somalia

KPFA's Africa Today On Somalia | Africa Speaks | The Somalian Labyrinth

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