Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NAIROBI621
2008-03-03 13:35:00
SECRET
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
Somalia - Inquiries on Air Strike Reports
how-toVZCZCXYZ3574 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNR #0621 0631335 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 031335Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4929 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CJTF HOA RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
S E C R E T NAIROBI 000621
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT: Somalia - Inquiries on Air Strike Reports
Classified by Special Envoy John Yates for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
-------
Summary
-------
S E C R E T NAIROBI 000621
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT: Somalia - Inquiries on Air Strike Reports
Classified by Special Envoy John Yates for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (S) Post has received several inquiries from media outlets and
other diplomatic missions regarding reports of air strikes in Dhoble,
Somalia on night of March 2 or early morning March 3. Most press
reports cite local residents allegations that "missiles" were
launched by a U.S. plane. Press reports claim several killed and
wounded as well as the destruction of at least one building. End
Summary.
--------------
Summary of Inquiries
--------------
2. (C) Post has received the following inquiries from media and press
outlets:
- BBC World, Nairobi Bureau.
- German International Press, Nairobi Bureau.
- Associated Press, Nairobi Bureau.
- International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Voice of America, Nairobi Bureau.
- German News Agency, Nairobi.
- Los Angeles Times, Nairobi.
3. (C) Post also received the following calls:
- Mohamed Amin Osman, a businessman in Dhoble, reported early on
March 3 that a missile hit a residential area last night. He said
only a few people were injured because the house that was hit was
empty because people were sleeping outside given the heat. Osman,
who called PolOff a week ago seeking help for his efforts to organize
locally based militia to counter the fast-spreading extremists in
Lower Juba, said that aircraft and missiles cannot help because they
cannot tell who are civilians and who are "the other guys."
- Pascal Hundt, Head of Somalia Delegation for International
Committee of the Red Cross, called this morning to say he was
contacted early in the morning from someone in Dhoble who said there
was a missile attack at around 3 am.
--------------
Post Action
--------------
3. (C) Post has drafted press guidance and sent it to Washington via
classified email. We await guidance on what response we can offer to
the press outlets and diplomatic counterparts who have inquired on
this issue. We expect there will be many more in coming hours and
that jihadist web sites will begin to invent non-factual and lurid
details.
RANNEBERGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SO
SUBJECT: Somalia - Inquiries on Air Strike Reports
Classified by Special Envoy John Yates for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (S) Post has received several inquiries from media outlets and
other diplomatic missions regarding reports of air strikes in Dhoble,
Somalia on night of March 2 or early morning March 3. Most press
reports cite local residents allegations that "missiles" were
launched by a U.S. plane. Press reports claim several killed and
wounded as well as the destruction of at least one building. End
Summary.
--------------
Summary of Inquiries
--------------
2. (C) Post has received the following inquiries from media and press
outlets:
- BBC World, Nairobi Bureau.
- German International Press, Nairobi Bureau.
- Associated Press, Nairobi Bureau.
- International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Voice of America, Nairobi Bureau.
- German News Agency, Nairobi.
- Los Angeles Times, Nairobi.
3. (C) Post also received the following calls:
- Mohamed Amin Osman, a businessman in Dhoble, reported early on
March 3 that a missile hit a residential area last night. He said
only a few people were injured because the house that was hit was
empty because people were sleeping outside given the heat. Osman,
who called PolOff a week ago seeking help for his efforts to organize
locally based militia to counter the fast-spreading extremists in
Lower Juba, said that aircraft and missiles cannot help because they
cannot tell who are civilians and who are "the other guys."
- Pascal Hundt, Head of Somalia Delegation for International
Committee of the Red Cross, called this morning to say he was
contacted early in the morning from someone in Dhoble who said there
was a missile attack at around 3 am.
--------------
Post Action
--------------
3. (C) Post has drafted press guidance and sent it to Washington via
classified email. We await guidance on what response we can offer to
the press outlets and diplomatic counterparts who have inquired on
this issue. We expect there will be many more in coming hours and
that jihadist web sites will begin to invent non-factual and lurid
details.
RANNEBERGER