Pentagon denies that Al-Shabab overpowered US Navy Seal
U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six pulled out during a raid in Somalia to capture suspected Al-Shabaab leader Ikrima when it became clear that he couldn’t be taken alive.
“Their mission was to capture him. Once it became clear we were not going to (be) able to take him, the Navy commander made the decision to withdraw,” said the official, who has direct knowledge of the entire Somalia operation but declined to be identified publicly.
The official said the SEALs faced heavy opposition and an intense firefight broke out, leading to the withdrawal.
The mission’s aim — to capture Ikrima — is the reason the team went in rather than using a drone to attack the heavily guarded seaside villa, the official said.
Another U.S. official said the Navy SEALs reported seeing children at the compound, part of the reason the mission was stopped during the firefight.
Amid questions about the aborted mission, the Pentagon is disputing the suggestion that Al-Shabaab drove out the SEALs.
“That’s not how it happened,” Pentagon spokesman George Little insisted “There was a firefight, absolutely, and they took every step to avoid civilian casualties in this case, and that’s what our military personnel do. They weigh these kinds of decisions and they made a prudent decision on the ground to depart. It was their decision.”
Little said earlier that the United States will continue to work with Somalia’s government to confront Al-Shabaab.
“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-Shabaab leadership at any time of our choosing,” he said.
It was one of two U.S. military operations in Africa over the weekend targeting what officials called high-value terrorism suspects.
