View source for Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa

{{Expert-subject|Military history|date=December 2009}}
{{update|date=December 2009}}

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{{Infobox Military Conflict
| conflict    = [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] - Horn of Africa
| partof      = the [[War on Terrorism]]
| image       = [[Image:Operation Enduring Freedom - djibouti2.jpg|300px]]
| caption     = [[Naval commandos (France)|French Naval commandos]] and United States soldiers from the [[3rd US Infantry|3rd Infantry Regiment]] participate in an exercise in [[Djibouti]].
| date        = October 7, 2002 – present
| place       = [[Horn of Africa]] and [[Gulf of Aden]]
| casus       =
| territory   =
| result      = Ongoing
| combatant1  = <!-- do not use non-free flag of NATO image here -->'''[[NATO]]:'''<br>
* {{flag|Belgium}}
* {{flag|Canada}}
* {{flag|Denmark}}
* {{flag|France}}
* {{flag|Germany}}
* {{flag|Greece}}
* {{flag|Italy}}
* {{flag|Netherlands}}
* {{flag|Portugal}}
* {{flag|Spain}}
* {{flag|Turkey}}
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flag|United States}}
Non-NATO allies:
* {{flag|Australia}}
* {{flag|China}}
* {{flag|Djibouti}}
* {{flag|Ethiopia}}
* {{flag|Japan}}
* {{flag|Kenya}}
* {{flag|New Zealand}}
* {{flag|Seychelles}}
* {{flag|Somalia}}
* {{flag|Russia}}
* {{flag|Singapore}}
* {{flag|South Korea}}
* {{flag|Sweden}}
* {{flag|Uganda}}
* {{flag|Ukraine}}
| combatant2  = '''[[Insurgents]]:'''<br />
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]][[al-Itihaad al-Islamiya]] (Dis)<br />
[[Image:Flag of the Islamic Courts Union.svg|22px]] [[Islamic Courts Union]] (Dis)<br>
[[File:Somalia Islamic Courts Flag.svg|22px]] [[Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahedeen]]<br>
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Hizbul Islam]] <br>
*[[Image:Flag of the Islamic Courts Union.svg|22px]] [[Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia]]
*[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Ras Kamboni Brigades]]
*[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Jabhatul Islamiya]]
*[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Mu'askar Anole]]
[[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|22px]] [[al-Qaeda]]<br>
''See: [[Somali Civil War]]'''
'''[[Pirate]]s:'''<br>
[[Piracy in Somalia|Somali Pirates]]<br/>
[[Piracy in Yemen|Yemeni Pirates]]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6918582.stm | work=BBC News | title=Eritrea 'arming' Somali militia | date=2007-07-27 | accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref><ref>http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/05/200951603447360512.html</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/world/africa/27somalia.html | work=The New York Times | title=A U.N. Report on Somalia Accuses Eritrea of Adding to the Chaos | first=Jeffrey | last=Gettleman | date=2007-07-27 | accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref>
| commander1  = {{flagicon|United States}} [[John F. Sattler]]<br />
{{flagicon|United States}} [[Timothy F. Ghormley]]*<br />
{{flagicon|United States}} [[Richard W. Hunt]]*<br />
{{flagicon|United States}} [[James M. Hart]]*<br />
{{flagicon|United States}} [[Philip H. Greene, Jr.]]*<br />
{{flagicon|United States}} [[Anthony M. Kurta]]<br />
| commander2  = [[Image:Flag of the Islamic Courts Union.svg|22px]] [[Hassan Dahir Aweys]]
[[Image:Flag of the Islamic Courts Union.svg|22px]] [[Sharif Ahmed]]*<br />
[[Image:Flag of the Islamic Courts Union.svg|22px]] [[Indho Ade]]*<br />
[[File:Somalia Islamic Courts Flag.svg|22px]] [[Adan Eyrow]] {{KIA}}<br />
[[File:Somalia Islamic Courts Flag.svg|22px]] [[Abu Mansoor]]<br />
[[File:Somalia Islamic Courts Flag.svg|22px]] [[Abdirahman Godane]]<br />
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Omar Iman]]<br />
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Hassan Turki]]<br />
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Hayle|Mohamed Hayle]]<br />
[[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Mukhtar Abu Ali Aisha]]<br />
[[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|22px]] [[Ali Saleh Nabhan]] {{KIA}}<br />
[[Image:Flag of al-Qaeda.svg|22px]] [[Fazul Mohammed]]<br />
| commander3  =
| strength1   =
| strength2   =
| strength3   =
| casualties1 = '''United States:'''<br>22 non-combat fatalities
| casualties2 = ~23 insurgents killed<br>11 pirates killed<br>53 pirates captured
| casualties3 = 1 Filipino & 1 French sailor killed<ref>http://www.20minutes.fr/article/319383/Monde-Le-skipper-de-la-Tanit-a-ete-tue.php</ref>
| notes       = Dis: Disbanded<br>*: Ex-commanders
}}
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{{Campaignbox Operation Enduring Freedom Horn of Africa}}
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'''Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa''' (OEF-HOA) is the name of the [[military operation]] defined by the [[United States]] for combating [[terrorism]] and [[piracy]] in the [[Horn of Africa]].<ref name=EUCOM-OPERATIONS-AND-INITIATIVES/> It is one component of the broader Afghan war category of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] (OEF), which includes eight African nations stretching from the far northeast of the continent to the oil-rich [[Gulf of Guinea]] in the west.<ref name="TID">[http://www.inteldaily.com/2010/03/africom’s-first-war-u-s-directs-large-scale-offensive-in-somalia/ AFRICOM’s First War: U.S. Directs Large-Scale Offensive In Somalia] - The Intelligence Daily</ref> The other OEF mission in Africa is known as [[Operation Enduring Freedom - Trans Sahara]] (OEF-TS), which has, until the creation of the new [[United States Africa Command|Africa Command]], been run out of [[United States European Command|European Command]].<ref name=EUCOM-OPERATIONS-AND-INITIATIVES>{{cite web|title=EUCOM: Operations and Initiatives|url=http://www.eucom.mil/english/Operations/main.asp|publisher=United States European Command|accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> In Northeastern Africa, allies of the OEF-HOA effort include [[Djibouti]], [[Ethiopia]] and [[Somalia]], with, among other [[counter-terrorism]] measures, Somali troops being trained in nearby countries in preparation for combat.<ref name="TID"/>

The [[Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa]] (CJTF-HOA) is the primary (but not sole) military component assigned to accomplish the objectives of the mission. The naval component is the multinational [[Combined Task Force 150]] (CTF-150) which operates under the direction of the [[United States Fifth Fleet]]. Both of these organizations have been historically part of [[United States Central Command]]. In February 2007, [[President of the United States|United States President]] [[George W. Bush]] announced the establishment of the United States Africa Command which took over all of the area of operations of CJTF-HOA in October 2008.<ref name=DOD-ESTABLISHING-US-AFRICA-COMMAND>{{cite news|title=DoD Establishing U.S. Africa Command|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2940|publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]|date=2007-02-06|accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref><ref name=africom-stands-up>{{cite news
|title=Africans Fear Hidden U.S. Agenda in New Approach to Africom
|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,430564,00.html
|publisher=[[Associated Press]]
|date=2008-09-30
|accessdate=2008-09-30 }}</ref>

==Operations==
===Interception of Missiles from North Korea===
[[Image:Asalto al So Sang.jpg|175px|thumb|left|''So San'' Assault.]]
On December 9, 2002 Spanish [[SPS Navarra (F85)]] intercepted the unflagged freighter ''So San'' several hundred miles southeast of [[Yemen]] at the request of the [[United States]] government. The frigate fired across the ''So San''<nowiki>’</nowiki>s bow after the freighter ignored hails and attempted to evade the frigate. The freighter’s crew was [[North Korea]]n; 23 containers containing 15 complete [[Scud]] ballistic missiles, 15 high-explosive warheads, and 23 [[nitric acid]] containers were found on board. [[Yemen]] claimed ownership of the shipment and protested the interception and U.S. officials released the vessel after receiving assurances that the missiles would not be transferred to a third party.
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2569687.stm] [http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/east/12/11/us.missile.ship/]

===Anti-piracy operations===
:''See also [[Combined Task Force 150]]''
:''See also [[Piracy in Somalia]]''

Pirates are rampant along the coast of Somalia and present a hazard to all shipping there, as such anti piracy operations are a routine part of Operation Enduring Freedom: Horn of Africa. This is done primarily by the [[Combined Task Force 150]] and in parallel to other independent anti-piracy operations conducted off the coast of Somalia by other countries such as [[China]], [[India]] and [[Russia]].

====21 January 2006====
On 21 January 2006, the [[USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)|USS ''Winston S. Churchill'']], an [[Arleigh Burke class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class]] [[destroyer]], captured a vessel operating off the Somali coast whose crew were suspected of piracy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suspected Pirates Captured Off Somali Coast|url=http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/Lists/Current%20Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=2596|publisher=[[United States Central Command]]|date=2007-01-22|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

====18 March 2006====
:{{main|March 18, 2006 incident off Somalia}}
On 18 March 2006 the [[USS Cape St. George (CG-71)|USS ''Cape St. George'']], a [[Ticonderoga class cruiser|''Ticonderoga''-class]] [[cruiser]] and the [[USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)|USS ''Gonzalez'']], an [[Arleigh Burke class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class]] destroyer, engaged pirate vessels after receiving fire from them.

====3 June 2007====
:{{main|June 3, 2007 incident off Somalia}}
On 3 June 2007 the [[USS Carter Hall (LSD-50)|USS ''Carter Hall'']], a [[landing ship dock]] engaged pirates attacking a freighter, but failed to repel them.

====28 October 2007====
:{{main|October 28, 2007 incident off Somalia}}
On 28 October 2007 the [[USS Porter (DDG-78)|USS Porter]], a destroyer opened fire on pirates who had captured a freighter and with other vessels blockaded a port the pirates attempted to take refuge in.

===Escalating tensions in Somalia===
:{{main|Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)}}

On 1 July 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bin Laden releases Web message on Iraq, Somalia|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-07-01-bin-laden-plans-message_x.htm|publisher=''[[USA Today]]''|date=2007-07-01|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

On 11 July 2006, the [[Islamic Courts Union]] (ICU) took control of the Somali capital [[Mogadishu]], and by the beginning of December had firm control of most of the south of [[Somalia]]. In November, 2006, a United States Marine detachment was in the town of [[Garissa]] in [[Kenya]]'s [[North Eastern Province (Kenya)|North Eastern Province]], adjoining Somalia. Officially, the Marines were an engineering detachment conducting a humanitarian mission of drilling bore holes in conjunction with the Kenya military to support flood relief.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brett|last=Hart|title=CJTF-HOA to Support Kenyan Government Flood Relief Operations|url=http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/Stories/Dec06/20061205-001.html|publisher=[[Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa]]|date=2007-12-05|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref> However, locals speculated that the Marines were performing a reconnaissance mission close to the Somali border.<ref name=SUSPICION-AS-MARINES-HIT-TOWN>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200611170008.html Suspicion As U.S. Marines Hit Town] ''The East African Standard''</ref><ref name=MARINES-MISSION-MYSTERY>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200612041176.html Marines Mission Shrouded in Mystery] ''The East African Standard''</ref> On 26 November 2006, the U.S. Embassy in Kenya issued a travel alert to U.S. citizens regarding travel to Kenya or [[Ethiopia]] after letters allegedly written by the Somalian leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Sheik [[Hassan Dahir Aweys]], encouraged suicide attacks on US citizens in those two countries.<ref name=WHY-US-IMPOSED-TRAVEL-CURB>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200611260111.html Why U.S. Imposed Travel Curb] ''The Nation''</ref>

===War in Somalia===
{{main|War in Somalia (2006–2009)}}
On 14 December 2006, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State [[Jendayi Frazer]] warned that al-Qaeda cell operatives were controlling the Islamic Courts Union, the [[Islamist]] faction of Somalia rapidly taking control of the southern area of the country.<ref name=US-SAYS-AL-QAEDA-BEHIND-SOMALI-ISLAMISTS>[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14556061.htm U.S. says al Qaeda behind Somali Islamists] Reuters</ref> The next day, ICU Information Secretary [[Abdirahim Ali Mudey]] denied the allegation as baseless.<ref name=ISLAMIC-COURTS-SAYS-AL-QAEDA-ACCUSATIONS-BASELESS>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200612150631.html Islamic Courts Deny Al-Qaeda Operatives In Country] Shabelle Media Network</ref> Frazer later announced that the United States has no intention of committing troops to Somalia to root out al-Qaeda.<ref name=US-DOES-NOT-PLAN-TO-SEND-TROOPS>[http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=December&x=20061215170307MVyelwarC0.629574 US Does Not Plan to Send Troops Against Al-Qaida in Somalia] U.S. State Department</ref>

On 27 December 2006, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported analysts in [[Nairobi]], Kenya claimed U.S. surveillance aircraft were funneling information to Ethiopian forces. Major Kelley Thibode, a spokeswoman for the task force of American military personnel based in Djibouti, said she was "not at liberty to discuss" the matter.<ref name=ISLAMISTS-IN-SOMALIA-RETREAT-FROM-ETHIOPIA-BACKED-FORCES>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/world/africa/27somalia.html?hp&ex=1167195600&en=10a88a3be0393151&ei=5094&partner=homepage Islamists in Somalia Retreat From Ethiopia-Backed Forces] ''New York Times''</ref> Somali Prime Minister [[Ali Mohammed Ghedi]] declared one of the key objectives of the offensive on [[Kismayo]] was the capture of three alleged al-Qaeda members, suspects wanted for the [[1998 United States embassy bombings]] in East Africa: [[Fazul Abdullah Mohammed]], [[Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan]] and [[Abu Taha al-Sudani]]. At the time, the [[United States Fifth Fleet]]'s maritime task force ([[Combined Task Force 150]]<ref name=NAVY-TRIES-TO-BLOCK-FLEEING-JIHADISTS>{{cite news
  | title =Navy tries to block fleeing jihadists from Somalia
  | publisher =[[Air Force Times]], Staff and wire reports
  | date =2007-01-03
  | url =http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2458956.php
  | accessdate = 2007-01-04 }}</ref>) based out of [[Bahrain]], was patrolling off the Somali coast to prevent terrorists launching an "attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material," said Commander Kevin Aandahl.<ref name=THOUSANDS-FLEE-SOMALIA-FIGHTING>{{cite news
  | title =Thousands Flee Somalia Fighting
  | publisher =Associated Press
  | date =2006-12-31
  | url =http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/157834.php?contentType=4&contentId=268733
  | accessdate = 2007-01-04 }}</ref> The announcement did not say what particular ships comprised the cordon, but the task force includes vessels from Canada, France, Germany, [[Pakistan]], the United Kingdom and the U.S. American ships of Combined Task Force 150 include the [[Arleigh Burke class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer]] [[USS Ramage (DDG-61)|USS ''Ramage'']] and the [[Ticonderoga class cruiser|''Ticonderoga''-class cruiser]] [[USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)|USS ''Bunker Hill'']].<ref name=RAMAGE-BUNKER-HILL-KEEPING-AN-EYE-ON-SOMALIA>{{cite news
  | title =Ramage, Bunker Hill keeping an eye on Somalia
  | publisher =MarineTimes.com
  | date =2007-01-04
  | url =http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2461109.php
  | accessdate = 2007-01-04 }}</ref> The aim of the patrols shifted on 2 January 2007, according to diplomats, to "… stop SICC leaders or foreign militant supporters escaping".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ethiopian troops to stay in Somalia weeks |date=2 January 2007 |publisher=Reuters |url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-01-02T122054Z_01_L28741526_RTRUKOC_0_US-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage4}}</ref>

On 2 January 2006, U.S. Marines operating out of [[Lamu]], Kenya, were said to be assisting Kenyan forces patrolling the border with Somalia with the interception of Islamists.<ref name=KIBAKI-MEETS-SOMALIA-PRESIDENT-AS-TENSION-AT-BORDER-PERSISTS>[http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143963283 Kibaki meets Somalia president as tension at border persists] ''The Standard''</ref> On 8 January it was reported that an [[AC-130]] gunship belonging to the [[United States military]] had attacked suspected al-Qaeda operatives in southern Somalia. It was also reported that the [[aircraft carrier]] [[USS Dwight D. Eisenhower|USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'']] had been moved into striking distance.<ref name=U.S.-TARGETS-AL-QAEDA-SUSPECTS-IN-SOMALIA,-PENTAGON-OFFICIAL-SAYS>{{cite news
  | title =U.S. targets al Qaeda suspects in Somalia, Pentagon official says
  | publisher =CNN
  | date =2007-01-08
  | url =http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/08/somalia.strike/index.html
  |accessdate = 2007-01-08 }}</ref> The aircraft flew out of its base in Djibouti. Many bodies were spotted on the ground, but the identity of the dead or wounded was not yet established. The targeted leaders were tracked by the use of [[unmanned aerial vehicles]] (UAVs) as they headed south from Mogadishu starting on 28 December.<ref name=>{{cite news
|title=Reports say U.S. targeted al Qaeda suspects in Somalia
|date=2007-01-09
|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-01-09T010418Z_01_N08416210_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SOMALIA-QAEDA-REPORT.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-6
|accessdate=2007-01-09 }}</ref> It was reported that the leader of al-Qaeda in East Africa, [[Fazul Abdullah Mohammed]], was killed in the attack, but later officials confirmed that he survived and also that none of the al-Qaeda operatives were killed. However, at least 8 militants of the ICU and at least 2 civilians were killed. On 9 January it was reported U.S. special forces and [[CIA]] operatives were working with Ethiopian troops on the ground in operations inside Somalia from a base in [[Galkayo]], in [[Puntland]], and from [[Camp Lemonnier]], Djibouti.<ref>{{cite news
 | title =U.S. Special Forces Engaged in Operations on the Ground in Somalia
 | publisher =ABC NEWS
 | date =2007-01-09
 | url =http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/01/us_special_forc.html
 |accessdate = 2007-01-09 }}</ref> <ref name=>{{cite news
|title=America's Boots on the Ground in Somalia
|url=http://politicscentral.com/2007/01/09/americas_boots_on_the_ground_i.php
|date=2007-01-09
|publisher=Pajamas Media
|accessdate=2007-01-12]] }}</ref> On 12 January, a small team of U.S. forces investigated the site of the U.S. gunship attack to search for information about the identity and fate of the targeted individuals.<ref name=US-TROOPS-SEEK-AIRSTRIKE-DEAD-IN-SOMALIA>{{cite news
|title=U.S. troops seek airstrike dead in Somalia
|url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/102623.php/US-troops-seek-airstrike-dead-in-Somalia
|publisher=[[United Press International]]
|date=2007-01-12
|accessdate=2007-01-12}}</ref>

On 17 January 2007, the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Defense for African affairs, [[Theresa Whelan]], clarifed the airstrike conducted on 8 January was not the work of the CJTF-HOA, but of another force which she did not specify. The target of the strike was confirmed to be [[Aden Hashi Farah Ayro]], who was believed wounded or possibly dead, while eight members of his group were killed in the attack.<ref name=US-RAID-MAY-HAVE-HIT-TOP-SOMALI-MILITANT>{{cite news |title= U.S. raid may have hit top Somali militant: Pentagon |url=http://www.alaskareport.com/reu77361.htm |date=2006-01-17 |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=2006-01-17}}</ref> Likewise, many airstrikes which resulted in civilian casualties around [[Afmadow]] conducted by Ethiopian aircraft were mis-attributed to the United States. On 21 January the capture of U.S. troops was reported by the ICU's Qaadisiya.com site,<ref>[http://www.qaadisiya.com qaadisiya.com]</ref> as well as the death of one due to [[malaria]], but this assertion was denied as "utterly bogus" by [[Michael Ranneberger]], U.S. Envoy to Kenya and Somalia.<ref name=US-HAS-GROUND-TROOPS-IN-SOUTHERN-SOMALIA>{{cite news
|title=U.S. has ground troops in southern Somalia: Journalist
|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_7183.shtml
|date=2007-01-21
|publisher=[[Garowe Online]]
|accessdate=2007-02-29 }}</ref> On 24 January, the U.S. admitted to have made a second airstrike, but did not confirm the exact date or location of the strike.<ref name=US-SECOND-AIRSTRIKE>{{cite news
|title=Military Official Reports Second US Air Strike in Somalia
|url=http://voanews.com/english/2007-01-24-voa67.cfm
|publisher=[[Voice of America]]
|date=2007-01-24
|accessdate=2007-02-06}}</ref> On 1 February 2007, the captured ICU leader [[Sharif Ahmed]] was released from Kenyan police authorities.<ref name=SOMALI-ISLAMIST-LEADER-RELEASED-FROM-KENYAN-AUTHORITIES>
{{cite news
|title=Somali Islamist leader out of Kenyan custody
|url=http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2007/feb/somali_islamist_leader_out_of_kenyan_custody.aspx
|date=2007-02-01
|accessdate=2007-02-01
|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> He also was reported to have met with [[Michael Ranneberger]] allegedly to arrange for the release of the captured U.S. troops.<ref name=US-DIPLOMAT-BIDS-THE-RELEASE-OF-11-US-SOLDIERS-SEIZED-IN-SOMALIA>{{cite news
|title=US diplomat bids the release of 11 US soldiers seized in Somalia
|url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2220.htm
|date=2007-02-01
|publisher=[[Shabelle Media Network]]
|accessdate=}}</ref> By 8 February, Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed had gone to [[Yemen]] where other ICU members are also thought to have gone.<ref>{{cite news |title= Somali Islamist travels to Yemen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6342527.stm |date=2007-02-08 |accessdate= 2007-02-08 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> On that day, reports in the Yememi Arabic newspaper ''Al-nedaa'' stated Sharif Ahmed's release was the first conditional step to arrange the release of varying reports of 11 or 15 United States Marines allegedly captured during fighting in southern Somalia at the [[Battle of Ras Kamboni]]. Four Marines were also alleged to have been wounded in the fighting.<ref name=SOMALIA-STORY-OF-US-CAPTIVES-IN-SOMALIA-GAINS-WEIGHT>{{cite news
|title=Somalia: The story of US captives in Somalia gains weight
|url=http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/7367
|date=207-02-08
|accessdate=2007-02-09 }}</ref><ref name=RELEASE-OF-15-US-SOLDIERS-IN-SOUTHERN-SOMALIA-UNDERWAY>{{cite news
|title=The Release of 15 US soldiers in southern Somalia underway--Yemen paper
|url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2273.htm
|date=2007-02-08
|publisher=Shabelle Media Network
|accessdate=2007-02-09 }}</ref> However, while these stories of captured American soldiers were prevalent in Somali media, they received little or no attention in the Western media. United States involvement in the conflict continued through 2008 with airstrikes targeting suspected Al Qaeda affiliated militants including a strike of dubious success conducted on 2 March 2008 where at least one US naval vessel launched cruise missiles against an Al Qaeda target in a [[Attack on Dobley|strike on the village of Dobley]] and a succeseful strike on [[Dhusamareb airstrike|Dhusamareb]] which killed several militant leaders.

===Alleged operations in Somaliland===
On 6 May 2005, a [[United States Marine Corps]] unit reportedly landed in [[Somaliland]], the autonomous and self-declared state in northern [[Somalia]]. The landings were purportedly conducted to carry out searches, as well as to question locals regarding the whereabouts of terrorist suspects. United States military officials denied the allegations and said operations were not being conducted in Somaliland.<ref>{{cite news|title=US denies Somali terror landing|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4517971.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=2007-05-06|accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

===War in Somalia (2009–present)===
{{main|War in Somalia (2009–)}}

Operations against al-Qaeda linked terrorists continued in 2009 when on September 14 several US Navy helicopters launched a [[Baraawe Raid|raid in Baraawe]] against [[Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan]], killing him as well as five other militants.

==See also==
*[[Operation Atalanta]]
*[[Manhunt (military)]]
*[[Baraawe raid]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{War on Terrorism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn Of Africa}}
[[Category:2006 War in Somalia]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism policy of the United States]]
[[Category:Military operations involving the United States]]
[[Category:Operations involving American special forces]]
[[Category:War on Terror]]
[[Category:Horn of Africa]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the 21st century]]

[[es:Operación Libertad Duradera (Cuerno de África)]]
[[ko:항구적 자유 작전 - 아프리카의 뿔]]
[[ja:アフリカの角における不朽の自由作戦]]
[[pt:Operação Liberdade Duradoura - Chifre da África]]
[[ru:Операция «Несокрушимая свобода» — Африканский рог]]
[[sk:Operácia Trvalá sloboda - Africký roh]]
[[Category:2Fix]]