Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa
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| Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa | |||||||||
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| Part of the War on Terrorism | |||||||||
 U.S. soldiers and French special forces personnel conduct a reconnaissance patrol |
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 NATO and allies, represented by:
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al-Qaeda | ||||||||
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| 15 non-combat fatalities | |||||||||
Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa is the official name used by the US government for a component of its response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Unlike other operations contained in Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF-HOA does not have a specific terrorist organization as a target. OEF-HOA instead focuses its efforts to disrupt and detect terrorist activities in the region and to work with host nations to deny the reemergence of terrorist cells and activities.
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[edit] Background
The Horn of Africa had been a known hotbed for terrorist activities, with the twin bombings that took place in 1998. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States became concerned that Al-Qaeda members may attempt to set up bases in the Horn of Africa due to their other base of operations, Afghanistan, being targeted.
[edit] Operations
In October 2002, the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) was established in Djibouti at Camp Le Monier and contains approximately 2,000 personnel including U.S. military and Special Operations Forces (SOF) and coalition force members, Coalition Task Force 150 (CTF-150), including French special forces. The coalition force members consist of ships from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. The primary goal of the coalition forces is to monitor, inspect, board and stop suspected shipments from entering the Horn of Africa region and areas of Operation Iraqi Freedom. [1] CTF-150 has been under British, German and French command. [2]
CJTF-HOA has devoted the majority of its efforts to train selected armed forces units of the countries of Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency tactics. Humanitarian efforts conducted by CJTF-HOA include rebuilding of schools and medical clinics as well as providing medical services to those countries who forces are being trained. The program expands as part of the Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Initiative as CJTF personnel also assist in training the forces of Chad, Niger, Mauritania and Mali. [3]
[edit] Denial of Operations in Somaliland
On May 6, 2005, US Marines were reported landing in Somaliland, the autonomous and self-declared independent northern area of Somalia. The landings were purportedly to carry out a search and questioning of locals regarding the whereabouts of terrorist suspects. US military officials denied the allegations and said operations were not being conducted in Somaliland.[1]
[edit] Escalating Tensions in Somalia
On July 1, 2006, a Web-posted message purportedly written by Osama bin Laden urged Somalis to build an Islamic state in the country and warned western states that his al Qaeda network would fight against them if they intervened there.[2]
In November, 2006, a US Marine detatchment was in Garissa town, in Kenya's North East Province, adjoining Somalia. Officially, the Marines were an engineering detatchment conducting a humanitarian mission of drilling bore holes in conjunction with the Kenya military. However, local suspicions alleged the Marines were performing a reconnaisance mission close to the Somali border.[3] [4]
On November 26, 2006, the US Embassy in Kenya issued a travel alert to US citizens regarding travel to Kenya or Ethiopia after letters allegedly written by the Somalian leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Sheik Hassah Dahir Aweys, encouraged suicide terrorist attacks on US citizens in those two countries.[5]
On December 14, 2006, the US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer warned al Qaeda cell operatives were controlling the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), the Islamist faction of Somalia rapidly taking control of the southern area of the country.[6]
| Main events | Specific articles | Main participants | ||
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Participants in Operations
Targets of Operations |
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ US denies Somali terror landing BBC News
- ^ Bin Laden releases Web message on Iraq, Somalia USA Today
- ^ Suspicion As U.S. Marines Hit Town The East African Standard
- ^ Marines Mission Shrouded in Mystery East African Standard
- ^ Why U.S. Imposed Travel Curb The Nation
- ^ U.S. says al Qaeda behind Somali Islamists Reuters
