Post date: Oct 07, 2013 8:8:25 PM
White House spokesman Jay Carney says U.S. raids in Africa show the United States is keeping pressure on al Qaeda.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNTIED STATES (OCTOBER 7, 2013) (NBC) - Two U.S. raids in Africa demonstrate the Obama administration's continued pressure on terrorists who threaten the United States, the White Housesaid on Monday (October 7), after complaints about the action in Libya and reports of failure to capture or kill the target in the raid in Somalia.
In Tripoli, U.S. forces snatched a Libyan wanted over the bombings of the American embassy in Nairobi 15 years ago and whisked him out of the country."Abu Anas al-Liby has been indicted in the southern District of New York in connection with his alleged role in al Qaeda's conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals and to conduct attacks against U.S. interests worldwide, which included al Qaeda plots to attack U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia as well as the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya," White Housespokesman Jay Carney said during a news briefing.
But the capture of Nazih al-Ragye, better known as Abu Anas al-Liby, also provoked a complaint about the "kidnap" from the Western-backed Libyan prime minister, who faces a backlash from armed Islamists who have carved out a share of power since the West helped Libyan rebels oust Muammar Gaddafi two years ago.
In Somalia, Navy SEALS stormed ashore into the al Shabaab stronghold of Barawebut, a U.S. official said, they failed to capture or kill the target among the Somali allies of al Qaeda.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the target was a Kenyan of Somali origin known as Ikrima, described as a foreign fighter commander for al Shabaab in Somalia.
Carney referred questions about the Somali raid to the Department of Defense.
"On October 4, U.S. military personnel were involved in a counterterrorism operation against a known al Shabaab terrorist, and as you know and as has been reported, no U.S. personnel were injured or killed and again for more information about that operation, I would refer you to the Department of Defense," Carney said.
One official said the U.S. operation in Somalia was not in direct response to last month's al Shabaab attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi that killed at least 67.