US ATTACKS SOMALIA

US ATTACKS SOMALIA

This is the first armed US intervention in the regioion, since a failed US mission in Somalia in 1994. The attack targeted terrorist responsible for the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. In 1994, Somalia faced mass starvation. The US sent in rangers to open up food supplies. The battle, portrayed in the book adapted movie Black Hawk Down, left 19 US rangers and thousands of Somalia's dead. Leading up to the battle a number of Pakistani UN blue helmets were ambushed and killed when trying to shut down a Islamist radio station. It has also been reported that the US was after a large Russian weapons cache hidden in the area. America's standoff approach to Somalia ended, yesterday when they attacked fleeing Islamists. Initial reports suggest a top Al-Qaeda leader and 27 civilians were killed in the attack.