SomaliEthiopian Forces

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30 Dec 06 Ethiopian tanks rumbled south from
Mogadishu to attack Somali Islamists on Saturday
after their hardline clerical leader reportedly
exhorted his fighters to make a final stand in
the port city of Kismayu. Ethiopian fighter jets
were seen over Kismayu and nearby Jilib town on
Friday and Saturday. "We are heading to Jilib in
a convoy of 15 Ethiopian tanks," Ahmednur Yasin
told Reuters by telephone. "There are more forces
heading to Buale and I am sure the fighting will
start soon. A Somali government soldier said the
Islamists had laced the highway from Mogadishu
with mines as they pulled back.
Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
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29 Dec 06 On Friday (29 Dec), Somalia's Prime
Minister Gedi promised thousands of cheering
Somalis peace and stability Friday as he formally
took control of the battle-scarred capital for
the first time since his government was formed
two years ago. Hundreds of foreign fighters,
mainly Arabs and southern Asians, were seen in
Kismayo on Friday. Ethiopian troops aboard tanks
fired warning shots into the air after dozens of
young men threw stones as the convoy traveled
through the city on the way to secure the
airport. Ethiopian jets continued to buzz the
front line town of Jilib, 65 miles north of
Kismayo. Jilib is at a crucial junction of rivers
and roads that lead to Kismayo. Somalia's
President Abdullahi Yusuf said Ethiopian troops
would stay in Somalia as "the government is not
up to the level of taking back the entire country
overnight." Somalia's president vowed to take
the fight to Kismayo. "We are going to go there
and confront them," Yusuf told reporters. "If we
capture them we will bring them to justice."
Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
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28 Dec 06 On Thursday (28 Dec), Somali forces
backed by Ethiopian forces seized roads to the
North and West of Mogadishu prepared to lay siege
to the capital. About 3000 Islamists were seen
retreating towards the port city of Kismaayo. It
appears that the Islamists have totally given up
Mogadishu. According to Abdirahman Janaqow, a
senior leader, he ordered his forces out of the
capital to avoid bloodshed. In Kismaayo, clan
leaders demanded that Islamists surrender. It
appears Somalis are turning against
Islamists. Other fighters who had joined the
Islamists have taken off their uniforms and
submitted to clan rule. Gunman Mohamed Barre
Sidow stated, "I have seen that the Islamists are
defeated. I'm going to rejoin my clan. I was
forced to join the Islamic courts by my clan, so
now I will return to my clan and they will decide
my fate, whether I join the government or
not. Clan elders were calling for their young
men to form into militias to protect their
neighborhoods.
Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
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27 Dec 06 On Wednesday (27 Dec), Somali backed by
Ethiopian forces secured Jawher (50 miles north
of Mogadishu) and are moving onto the outskirts
of Balcad which is about 18 miles north of
Mogadishu. Other elements appear to be closing
into Mogadishu from the west. Sheik Mohamoud
Ibrahim Suley of the Council of Islamic Courts
stated, "Our snakes of defense were let loose,
now they are ready to bite the enemy everywhere
in Somalia. It appears that Ethiopian and Somali
troops will close on the outskirts of Mogadishu
tomorrow. Once this center of gravity is
captured, it waits to be seen if Somali/Ethiopian
forces continue to clear Islamists out of the
entire country. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi stated Somali and Ethiopian forces have
killed about 1000 Islamists and have wounded an
additional 3000.
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Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
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26 Dec 06 On Tuesday (26 Dec), Islamists
retreated more than 30 miles to the southeast
from Daynuney, a town just south of Baidoa, the
government headquarters. The Islamic forces also
abandoned their main stronghold in Buurhakaba
(southern sector) and were forming convoys headed
toward the capital, Mogadishu. Somali government
and Ethiopian troops entered the town of
Buulebarde (center sector) and Galinsor, south of
Galcaio (northern sector) and appeared to be
pushing south from this position. "We have
withdrawn as part of our military strategy," said
Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley, an official with
the Islamic council in Mogadishu. Like other
Islamists, it appears they are retreating from
major fights, overwhelming firepower and will
begin a guerilla war and employ suicide
bombers. For its part, Somali government and
Ethiopian troops appear to be executing a
three-pronged attack which will culminate in
Mogadishu.
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Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
6
25 Dec 06 On Wednesday (20 Dec 06), Somali forces
backed by Ethiopian forces attacked across three
fronts. On Sunday (24 Dec 06), Ethiopian Prime
Minister acknowledged that his country was
forced to enter a war against the Somali
Council of Islamic Courts. In the North, the
immediate objective appears to be Gaalkacyo in
the Mudug Region. Fighting between Somali/
Ethiopian forces and Islamists is still occuring.
In the Center, the immediate objective is
Beledweyne. Col. Abdi Yusuf Ahmed, a Somali
commander stated his forces entered Beledweyne
Monday (25 Dec 06) without firing a shot. In the
South, Somali/Ethopian forces are in control of
Baidba and fighting is taking place in
Buurhakaba. The Central and South battle will
almost certainly culminate in Mogadishu where
Ethiopian jets damaged the main airport. The
battles in Gaalkacyo and Beledweyne have sealed
the main Kala-Bayrka road between the Hiraan and
Mudug region which is key to the Islamists.
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1000s
Somali/Ethiopian Forces Somalia Islamist
Forces Ethiopian Airforce Attacks/Battles Islamic
Rallies
100s