by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
TRIPOLI, Libya – US military forces conducted simultaneous raids Saturday that targeted Al-Qaeda leaders in both Libya and Somalia. In Libya’s capitol, American troops assisted by CIA and FBI captured Abu Anas al-Liby, a man indicted for the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
“As the result of a U.S. counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al Libi is currently lawfully detained by the U.S. military in a secure location outside of Libya,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
al-Liby, who will be handed over to the FBI, is expected to be flown to New York where he will stand trial for his involvement in the 1998 embassy bombings. His suspected participation in those bombings earned him a $5 million bounty during the 15 year manhunt. In those 15 years, al-Liby traveled between Afghanistan, Sudan, and Iran, where he was detained for a number of years.
The Libyan government has denounced the military operation, calling on the US government to explain the “kidnapping” of al-Liby from Tripoli. Many parts of Libya have fallen under control of Islamic militia groups since the fall of the Gaddafi government in 2011.
“We hope that this makes clear that the United States of America will never stop in the effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror,” said John Kerry.
Hours before the military operation in Tripoli, a US Navy SEAL team swam into the Barawe, a stronghold for the terrorist group al-Shabaab in Somalia. The SEAL team members engaged in a fierce firefight and were unable to capture their intended target, whose identity the Pentagon has yet to release. There have been no reports on casualties for either US military forces or military targets as of yet.
The al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the four day siege of a mall in Nairobi that began September 21. That attack resulted in 67 casualties.
For more information, please see:
Reuters – Libya, Somalia raids show U.S. reach, problems – 6 October 2013
The Wall Street Journal – U.S. Raids Terror Targets in Somalia, Libya – 6 October 2013
The Washington Times – Libya bristles at U.S. raid that captured al Qaeda militant – 6 October 2013
ABC News – US Strikes Double Blow Against Al Qaeda in Libya and Somalia – 5 October 2013
The New York Times – U.S. Raids in Libya and Somalia Strike Terror Targets – 5 October 2013
