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Obama: US forces assisted failed French raid in Somalia
President Barack Obama today disclosed that the U.S. military played a role in a failed attempt by French commandos to free a hostage in Somalia on Friday.

In a letter to Congress the president says service members “provided limited technical support” in the raid, but he denies the forces took any direct action in the assault on the compound. The NATO member state was attempting to free a French intelligence agent that had been captured by al-Shabab three years ago.

The hostage and at least one French soldier died in the ensuing gunbattle, which also killed a reported 17 terrorists militants, according to the French government. A town elder said the commandos had also shot Somalis who had turned on flashlights during the nighttime raid trying to see what the commotion was.

Al-Shabab says the French agent is still in their custody along with a soldier from the raid, but did not offer proof.

Obama's letter also says that U.S. aircraft “briefly entered Somali airspace to support the rescue operation, if needed,” but did not deploy weapons. The letter does not mention whether the aircraft were manned planes or drone vehicles.
Posted by: ryuge 2013-01-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=360005