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Al Shabab 101: What is the Somali terrorist group?

Al Shabab, which was behind the attack on Nairobi's Westgate mall, has long fomented violence and promoted radical Islam in Somalia.

4. Why is Washington sending US military forces on raids in Somalia?

  • By Mike Eckel Correspondent
  • Scott Baldauf Correspondent

The October 2013 raid on the southern Somali coastal town of Baraawe was a bold attempt to capture Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir, an Al Shabab commander who uses the nom de guerre Ikrima and who is suspected of grenade attacks and other violence against Kenyan military and civilians. Though unsuccessful, the attack underscores US concern that Shabab's ties with Al Qaeda could heighten the ability of allied terror groups to hit targets across Africa. Washington opened a small installation in the West African nation of Niger in February to operate surveillance drones, particularly over Mali, whose north was temporarily overrun by an Al Qaeda-linked group last year. The US's only military installation on the continent, meanwhile, is in Djibouti; US forces have used the Horn of Africa country since 2002 to fly drones over Somalia, Yemen, and elsewhere.

“While the operation did not result in Ikrima’s capture, U.S. military personnel conducted the operation with unparalleled precision and demonstrated that the United States can put direct pressure on Al Shabab leadership at any time of our choosing," the Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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