U.S. Forces Stage Military Raids in Libya, Somalia | Democracy Now!

8.10.13

Headlines for October 07, 2013 | Democracy Now!: U.S. forces have conducted raids in Somalia and Libya aimed at alleged Islamist militants. On Saturday, Navy SEALs attacked a seaside villa on the coast of Somalia, targeting an alleged senior leader of the Somali group al-Shabab. The SEALs reportedly withdrew after an exchange of gunfire that left seven people dead, none of them on the U.S. side. It was the most extensive U.S. raid in Somalia since 2009. The United States initially said the apparent target, identified as Ikrima, was captured in the raid, but later backed off that claim. An unnamed U.S. official said the operation came in response to the deadly attack on a Kenyan mall last month that killed over 60 people. But according to Reuters, another U.S. official said it is unknown if Ikrima was involved.