Battle of Ras Kamboni

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Ras Kamboni
partof=the War in Somalia (2006–present)
date=January 5, 2007 - January 12, 2007


place=Near Ras Kamboni, Somalia
caption=Battle of Ras Kamboni, US & Ethiopian Airstrikes
result=Islamist defeat
combatant1= [cite news
title=Former Members of Radical Somali Group Give Details of Their Group
publisher=Voice of America
date=2007-01-07
url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-01-06-voa25.cfm
accessdate=2007-01-08]
combatant2=
commander1=Sharif Sheik Ahmed
Yusuf Hassan
commander2=TFG: Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale
Ethiopia: Abdirisak Afgadud
U.S.: Timothy Ghormleycite news
title=Clash of agendas
publisher=The Guardian
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldbriefing/story/0,,1986303,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
date=2007-01-09
accessdate=2007-01-10]
Maritime Security: U.S.: Patrick M. Walsh UK: Bruce Williams (CTF-150)
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=
casualties3=Around 60 dead, 100 wounded in airstrikescite news
title=al-Qaida Chief in Somalia May Be Dead
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6336285,00.html
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-01-10
accessdate=2007-01-10]

The Battle of Ras Kamboni was a battle in the 2006-2007 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces for control of Ras Kamboni (coord|1|38|20|S|41|35|17|E|type:city), a town near the Kenyan border which once served as a training camp for the Islamist group Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya.

The battle began on January 5, 2007, when TFG and Ethiopian forces launched their assault. On January 7, 2007, the United States entered the conflict by launching airstrikes using an AC-130 gunship against suspected Al Qaeda members operating within the ranks of the ICU.cite web
title=Aircraft Attack Al Qaeda Haven, Ike Moves off Somalia
url=http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2625
publisher=American Forces Press Service
date=2007-01-09
accessdate=2007-01-09] International concern and controversy arose over civilian casualties in additional airstrikes around Ras Kamboni and in Afmadow province, and whether these were the result of U.S. actions or Ethiopian aircraft operating in the area. The town finally fell to the TFG and Ethiopian forces on January 12 2007.

Background

U.S. security concerns in the Horn of Africa, particularly at Ras Kamboni, heightened after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. On December 16, 2001, Paul Wolfowitz said the U.S. was meeting with various Somali and Ethiopian contacts to "observe, survey possible escape routes, possible sanctuaries" for Al Qaeda operatives.cite news
title=U.S. returning to a nightmare called Somalia
publisher=San Francisco Chronicle
date=2001-12-16
url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/12/16/MN115486.DTL
accessdate=2007-01-08 ] On March 2, 2002 a briefing was held in the Pentagon discussing the possible use of Ras Kamboni by terrorist groups, including al-Ittihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) and Al Qaeda. [cite press release
title =Threat in Horn of Africa
publisher =United States Department of State
date =2002-03-08
url =http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/8801.htm Terrorist
accessdate = 2007-01-09 ] In December 2002, the U.S. established the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) to monitor developments in the region and to train local militaries in counterterrorism.cite web
title =Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
publisher =globalsecurity.org
date =
url =http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/cjtf-hoa.htm
accessdate =2007-01-09 ] When Ethiopian troops entered the Somalian conflict in December 2006, a small number of U.S. special forces accompanied them to give military advice and to track suspected al-Qaida fighters.cite news |title=Al-Qaida suspects still alive in Somalia |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/somalia |publisher=AP |date=January 11, 2007 |accessdate=2007-01-11]

On December 28, 2006, withdrawal of the ICU to Ras Kamboni was reported as a possibility after the Fall of Mogadishu to Somali TFG and Ethiopian forces.cite news
title=Somalia: ICU hardliners left Mogadishu to unknown location
publisher=Shabelle Media Networks
date=2006-12-28
url=http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6249
accessdate=2007-01-08]

After their loss at the Battle of Jilib and the Fall of Kismayo on January 1, 2007, ICU fighters split into different groups, with some heading northwest towards Dhobley (coord|0|24|35|N|41|0|21|E|) and Afmadow,cite news
title=Ethiopian fighter jets bomb southern Somalia
publisher=Shabelle Media Networks
date=2007-01-08
url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2031.htm
accessdate=2007-01-08 ] others moving to the remote, hilly areas of Buur Gaabo, and the remainder withdrawing southwest towards the peninsula town of Ras Kamboni.cite news
title=Somali Islamists on the run
publisher=Reuters
date=2007-01-02
url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070102.SOMALIA02/TPStory/TPInternational/Africa/
accessdate=2007-01-08 ]

On January 2, 2007, Ethiopian MiG jets began to patrol over Ras Kamboni but no attacks were reported.cite news
title=Islamic militants wedged against the sea
publisher=Associated Press
date= 2007-01-02
url=http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192443601&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161
accessdate=2007-01-08 ] U.S. Marines operating from Lamu, Kenya, were said to be assisting Kenyan forces patrolling the border with Somalia to intercept Islamists.cite news
title =Kibaki meets Somalia president as tension at border persists
publisher =The Standard (Kenya)
date =2007-01-03
url =http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143963283
accessdate = 2007-01-04 ]

Unknown gunmen thought to be Somali Islamists fired shots at a Kenyan security helicopter patrolling near the border with Somalia. The helicopter was flying over the southeastern Kenyan border town of Hulugho. The report did not say if the aircraft was damaged but said gunmen fired small arms from the region of Ras Kamboni, the base for the fleeing Islamists.cite news
title =Somalia: Gunmen shot at Kenyan helicopter
publisher =Somalinet
date =2007-01-03
url =http://www.somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6422
accessdate = 2007-01-04 ]

The United States Fifth Fleet's Carrier Strike Group 8, along with the British-led multinational maritime task force, Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150),cite news
title=Combined Task Force 150 Maintains Presence Off East Coast of Africa
url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27242
publisher=United States Navy
date=2007-01-05
accessdate=2007-01-11] cite news
title =Navy tries to block fleeing jihadists from Somalia
publisher =Air Force Times, Staff and wire reports
date =2007-01-03
url =http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2458956.php
accessdate = 2007-01-04 ] based out of Bahraincite news
title =Navy searching for terrorists trying to flee Somalia
publisher =Navy Times, Staff report
date =2007-01-05
url =http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2463655.php
accessdate = 2007-01-05 ] are patrolling off the Somali coast to prevent terrorists from launching an "attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material", said Commander Kevin Aandahl.cite news
title =Thousands Flee Somalia Fighting
publisher =Associated Press
date =2006-12-31
url =http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/157834.php?contentType=4&contentId=268733
accessdate = 2007-01-04 ] The U.S. ships deployed to the area include the USS "Ramage" guided missile destroyer, the USS "Bunker Hill" and USS "Anzio" guided missile cruisers, the USS "Ashland" amphibious landing ship and the USS "Dwight D. Eisenhower" aircraft carrier.cite news
title =Ramage, Bunker Hill keeping an eye on Somalia
publisher =MarineTimes.com
date =2007-01-04
url =http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2461109.php
accessdate = 2007-01-04 ]

Battle

January 5

On January 5, 2007, TFG Defense Minister Colonel Barre Aden Shirre Hiiraale announced: "Today we will launch a massive assault on the Islamic courts militias. We will use infantry troops and fighter jets... They have dug huge trenches around Ras Kamboni but have only two options: to drown in the sea or to fight and die."cite news
title=Somalia's Islamists Vow to Heed al-Qaida
publisher=Associated Press
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010501815_2.html
date=2008-01-05
accessdate=2007-01-08 ]

January 6

Fighting continued January 6 in the forests south of Kismayo near the Kenyan border, where it was reported the Islamists were holding out armed with over 100 technicals.cite news
title =Fighting between Islamists and government forces continues near the Kenyan border
publisher =Shabelle Media Network
date =2006-01-06
url =http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2013.htm
accessdate =2006-01-06 ]

January 8

On January 8, 2007, Col. Hiraale announced TFG and Ethiopian forces were close to entering Ras Kamboni after two days of fierce battles.cite news
title=Somali president in capital as interim government tries to establish control
publisher=Canadian Press
url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=12765710-3f4e-4a2a-b2e6-bb314f7d7b73&k=64422
date=2008-01-08
accessdate=2007-01-08 ]

Premature reports came of the fall of Ras Kamboni. One was from TFG member Abdirashid Hidig.cite news
title=Islamic Militant Jungle Hideout Captured
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-01-08
url=http://www.cfnews13.com/News/International/2007/1/8/islamic_militant_jungle_hideout_captured.html
accessdate=2007-01-08] A second came from a TFG military divisional commander, Abdirisak Afgadud (alternately spelled Abdulrasaq Afgebub): "Our forces accompanied by our Ethiopian friends have totally cracked down on the remnants of the Islamists in the border area."cite news
title=Somalia: Commander says military operations over
publisher=Garowe Online
date=2008-01-07
url=http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_6936.shtml
accessdate=2007-01-08 ] cite news

title =Rebels driven out from Somalia south: govt. commander
publisher =The News Pakistan
date =2007-01-10
url =http://www.thenews.com.pk/update_detail.asp?id=15735
accessdate = 2007-01-10 ] Defense Minister Hiraale corrected and clarified the reports, saying fighting was ongoing. 50 wounded Ethiopian troops were reported evacuated by helicopter.cite news
title=Islamic Jungle Hideout Near Capture
publisher=Associated Press
date=2008-01-08
url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070108/API/701080984&cachetime=3&template=dateline
accessdate=2007-01-08 ]

To the north of Ras Kamboni, elsewhere in Badhadhe province, an Ethiopian force intercepted Islamist forces in the area of the Kenyan border town of Amuma, Garissa district. Seven vehicles were destroyed. A platoon of Kenyan border police were in the area to enforce the border closure.cite news
title=Kenya: Seven Islamic militia vehicles destroyed in battle
url=http://somalinet.com/news/world/East%20Africa/6495
publisher=SomaliNet
date=2007-01-08
accessdate=2007-01-09 ] In Afmadow province, Ethiopia launched airstrikes against targets near Afmadow and Dhobley.cite news
title=Ethiopian fighter jets bomb southern Somalia
date=2007-01-08
publisher=Shabelle Media Network
url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2031.htm
accessdate=2007-01-09 ]

Also on January 8, it was reported that an AC-130 gunship belonging to the United States military had attacked a suspected Al-Qaeda operative, along with other Islamist fighters, on Badmadow Island (possibly the island located at coord|1|36|42|S|41|36|42|E|type:isle) near Ras Kamboni in southern Somalia the day before (January 7).cite web
title=Aircraft Attack Al Qaeda Haven, Ike Moves off Somalia
url=http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2625
publisher=American Forces Press Service
date=2007-01-09
accessdate=2007-01-09] The aircraft flew out of its base in Djibouti. The U.S. reported 8 - 10 deaths, mostly Somalis, but the identity of the dead or wounded was not yet established. Reports said DNA testing was being done to establish identities but U.S. sources denied that the top al-Qaida targets were among those killed. "The U.S. were trying to kill the al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the bomb attacks on their embassies in Kenya and Tanzania", Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Aideed told The Associated Press. "They have our full support for the attacks."cite news
title=US Somalia attack leaves many dead: govt
publisher=Associated Press
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/US-Somalia-attack-leaves-many-dead-govt/2007/01/09/1168104960888.html
date=2007-01-09
accessdate=2007-01-09]

The targeted leaders were tracked by the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as they headed south from Mogadishu starting on December 28.cite news
title=Reports say U.S. targeted al Qaeda suspects in Somalia
date=2007-01-09
publisher=Reuters
url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-01-09T010418Z_01_N08416210_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SOMALIA-QAEDA-REPORT.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-6
accessdate=2007-01-09 ] It was also reported the aircraft carrier USS "Dwight D. Eisenhower" had been moved into striking distance.cite news
title =U.S. targets al Qaeda suspects in Somalia, Pentagon official says
publisher =CNN
date =2007-01-08
url =http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/08/somalia.strike/index.html
accessdate = 2007-01-08 ]

January 9

On January 9, a second AC-130 strike was reported at Hayo (also Xayo or Hayi, approx. Lat 0º28’ N, Long 41º49’ E) on the road between the provincial capital of Afmadow and Dhobley (Doble) near the Kenyan border. Later more reports stated that more than 50, mostly Islamist leaders, have died in U.S. air strikes. [cite news
first=Jeffrey
last=Gentleman
title =More Than 50 Die in U.S. Strikes in Somalia
publisher =New York Times
date =2007-01-09
url =http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/world/africa/09cnd-somalia.html
accessdate = 2007-01-10 ] A strike by two unidentified attack helicopters was also reported hitting near Afmadow (coord|0|30|56|N|42|4|24|E|type:city). Somali Defense Ministry personnel stated this was a third U.S. attack, but eyewitness accounts could not establish the nationality of the helicopters. Unconfirmed reports claimed the attacks killed 31 civilians.cite news
title=U.S. Again Attacks Somali Militants
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-01-09
url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,121879,00.html
accessdate=2007-01-09] It was later asserted by a U.S. military official the helicopters may have been Ethiopian Mi-24 Hinds.cite news
title=U.S. Reportedly Targeted 20 in Somalia
publisher=The Guardian
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6337431,00.html
date=2007-01-11
accessdate=2007-01-10 ] This would not have been the first case of off-target airstrikes for the Ethiopian attack helicopters. On January 3, they had attacked Harehare village, across the Kenyan border, mistaking it for Islamist positions at the town of Dhobley.cite news
title=Kenya boosts troop presence after assault on border post
url=http://washingtontimes.com/world/20070103-093945-6524r.htm
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-01-03
accessdate=2007-01-10 ]

January 10

On January 10, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman framed Somalia as part of the war on terror: "As we pursue the war on terror we will seek out, attempt to identify, locate, capture and if necessary kill terrorists and to thwart their activities."cite news
title=Pentagon says Somalia attack not the end
url=http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/01/10/a1.somalia.0110.p1.php?section=nation_world
date=2007-01-09
accessdate=2007-01-12 ] A second planned attack was reportedly called off after losing track of the target.cite news
title=Official: 2nd U.S. Attack in Somalia Called Off
url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242740,00.html
date=2007-01-10
accessdate=2007-01-12 ]

Also on this day, a pair of reports arose which were covered widely in the media, but later contradicted by U.S. sources.

The first was a report by Somali presidential chief of staff, Abdirizak Hassan, who stated the U.S. airstrikes had killed Al Qaeda member Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, and leaders of the Islamic Courts Union including Abduallahi Moalim Ali (former chief of security for Mogadishu), Abdirahman Janaqow, and a third unidentified person. The bodies had reportedly been recovered by Ethiopian military personnel.cite news
title=Pentagon says Somalia attack not the end
url=http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/01/10/a1.somalia.0110.p1.php?section=nation_world
date=2007-01-10
accessdate=2007-01-10] This report was refuted the next day by a confidential U.S. source, who said the hunt for the three Al Qaeda members continues, though it was not mentioned whether the other ICU leaders mentioned were alive or dead.cite news
title=Official: Somalia strike missed al Qaeda suspects
source=Associated Press
url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/11/somalia.ap/
date=2007-01-11
accessdate=2007-01-11 ]

The second report mentioned at least four more AC-130 airstrikes targeted Ras Kamboni. Other sites were also said to have been targeted by U.S. aircraft around southern Somalia. Somali politician Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig toured the area by helicopter and spoke of 50 killed in the attacks. He said additional targets hit include Hayo, Garer, Bankajirow and Badmadowe. Clan elder Haji Farah Qorshel claimed 64 people were killed and 100 wounded around Afmadow in three days of attacks.cite news
title=al-Qaida Chief in Somalia May Be Dead
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6336285,00.html
publisher=Associated Press
date=2007-01-10
accessdate=2007-01-10] However, confidential sources denied the additional attacks were made by the U.S. Ethiopian aircraft are also known to be operating in the combat area.cite news
title=U.S denies reports of new Somalia air strikes
url=http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=uri:2007-01-10T175505Z_01_L10334444_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-SOMALIA-CONFLICT1-COL.XML&pageNumber=1&summit=
date=2007-01-10
accessdate=2007-01-10 ]

January 11

On January 11, the American ambassador to Kenya said that the U.S. claimed Al-Qaeda suspect Fazul Abdullah Mohammed was actually still alive and that none of the Al-Qaeda members were killed in the air attack but some members of the ICU were killed.cite news
title=Al-Qaida suspects still alive in Somalia
publisher=AP
date=2007-01-11
url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070111/ap_on_re_af/somalia
accessdate=2007-01-11] Later in the day, anonymous U.S. sources stated that U.S. forces were on the ground in Somalia investigating the identity of the persons who had been killed in the gunship attack.cite web
title=U.S. Troops Went Into Somalia After Raid
publisher=Washington Post
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011102329.html
date=2007-01-11
accessdate=2007-01-11 ]

January 12

On January 12, TFG Defense Minister Barre Aden Shirre Hiiraale announced Ras Kamboni had fallen to the Somali government and Ethiopian forces after five days of heavy fighting. Remnants of the Islamist forces were being pursued into the nearby forests and fighting would continue.cite news
title=Islamic hideout in Somalia said captured
url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4466900.html
date=2007-01-12
publisher=Associated Press
accessdate=2007-01-12] A small team of U.S. forces investigated the site of the U.S. gunship attack to search for information about the identity and fate of the targeted individuals.cite news
title=U.S. troops seek airstrike dead in Somalia
url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/102623.php/US-troops-seek-airstrike-dead-in-Somalia
publisher=United Press International
date=2007-01-12
accessdate=2007-01-12]

January 17

Theresa Whelan, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, in a press conference said she believed the raid killed eight soldiers of Aden Hashi Farah Ayro, head of an Islamist militia. Ayro was believed to have been wounded in the attack and perhaps killed.cite news |title= U.S. raid may have hit top Somali militant: Pentagon |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070117/ts_nm/somalia_usa_raid_dc_1 |date=Jauary 17, 2006 |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=2006-01-17]

ee also

*List of military strikes against presumed terrorist targets
*Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
*Islamic Courts Union
*Al Qaeda

References

ee also