http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u...lls-scores-al-shabab-militants-during-n533266
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u...volved-somalia-raid-defense-officials-n534886
http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d2...-Violence/id-78f9b8917bb44182ba9294e6dfe12ed9
MAR 8 2016, 3:38 AM ET
U.S. Airstrike in Somalia Kills Scores of Al-Shabab Militants During 'Ceremony'
WASHINGTON — More than 150 members of the al-Shabab terrorist group were killed overnight Sunday by a massive U.S. airstrike in Somalia, senior defense officials told NBC News.
The dead were among the 200 or so fighters at a training camp some 120 miles north of Mogadishu who were preparing for an "imminent large-scale attack" against U.S. and regional governmental forces, officials told NBC News.
While the officials did not identify the al-Shabab targets, American special forces have been training Somali forces in the east African nation.
It appeared "the group was in formation" and conducting "some kind of ceremony" when American drones dropped bombs and launched Hellfire missiles at the militants, the officials said.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u...volved-somalia-raid-defense-officials-n534886
MAR 9 2016, 1:45 PM ET
U.S. Special Operations Forces Involved in Somalia Raid: Defense Officials
According to the officials, the Somali military forces were flown to the target area aboard U.S. military helicopters. The American commandos on the operation accompanied the Somali soldiers in an "advise and assist" role.
http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d2...-Violence/id-78f9b8917bb44182ba9294e6dfe12ed9
Mar. 9, 2016 11:52 AM ET
US special forces kill 10 Islamic extremists in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Hoping to capture a high-profile target, U.S. special forces hopped off helicopters a couple of miles (kilometers) from an al-Shabab-controlled town, slipped through the dark and then got into a fierce firefight that reportedly killed more than 10 Islamic extremists.
A Somali intelligence official told The Associated Press that the person they wanted to get was apparently killed during the fight.
"It was a high-profile target, and chances of capture were challenged by a stiff resistance by militants guarding the house targeted by the special forces, which forced the commando to resort to the kill or capture method," the official said. He spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press on the matter.
...
U.S. officials said American special operations forces partnered with Somali soldiers in the raid.
Roughly 50 U.S. special operations troops have been operating in Somalia on a rotational basis for the last few years.
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Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Musab, a spokesman for al-Shabab, told a militant-run online radio that the foreign forces used two helicopters and that one militant was killed.
Mohamed Hassan, an elder in Awdhegle, told The Associated Press that the foreign forces parked their helicopters outside the town and walked at least 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), sneaking into the town to avoid detection by the Islamic fighters and launch a surprise raid.
He said there was gunfire between militants and al-Shabab foot soldiers that started near the police station.
Meanwhile, three police officers and one civilian were killed Wednesday in a suicide car bombing outside a cafe near the police academy in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, said police Gen. Ali Hersi Barre.