Islamist Forces in Somali City Vanish -Jeffrey Gettleman
The Islamist forces who have controlled much of Somalia in recent months suddenly vanished from the streets of the capital, Mogadishu, residents said Wednesday night, just as thousands of rival troops massed 15 miles away.
In the past few days, Ethiopian-backed forces, with tacit approval from the United States, have unleashed tanks, helicopter gunships and jet fighters on the Islamists, decimating their military and paving the way for the internationally recognized transitional government of Somalia to assert control.
[New York Times]
2 comments:
But of course, as was pointed out in the article, the Islamists disappeared. It is not clear that there has been a victory, yet. Let us not forget W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished!" and count them out here. But it was a good start, and hopefully will lead to the peaceful entrenchment of the UN backed transitional government.
Perhaps, but it is a rare example of how Islamists can be swept away easily, but only before their power has solidified.
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