Somalia, Somalians, and an AC-130 used in at least two airstrikes in Somalia in early 2007.

The United States has directly attacked Somalia at least four times during the past year and a half. Just within the last couple of months, the United States has bombed the towns of Dusamareb and Dhoble.

In Dusamareb, the U.S. was targeting Aden Hashi Ayro, whom they suspected of being a “terrorist” affiliated with al-Qaeda. Tomahawk missiles were launched into the town from a U.S. warship off the coast of Somalia. Several civilians were also killed in the attack, including women and children.

In Dhoble, the U.S. claims to have used Tomahawk missiles again, but locals claim to have seen AC-130 planes. Locals also claimed that at least 4 civilians were killed, and several more were wounded.

A little context: These bombings are directed at members of al-Shabaab, which is the military wing of the Islamic Courts Union who briefly controlled much of Somalia in 2006 — and who had brought relative peace and stability to the chaotic yet oil rich nation — before they were forced from power by U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops. (Christian Ethiopia is a historic enemy of Somalia, which is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.)

The U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion has contributed to a humanitarian crisis the International Committee of the Red Cross has described as “catastrophic”. Over a million people have been made internal refugees, and the U.N warned that 3.5. million Somalis — nearly half the country’s population — face famine. Moreover, Amnesty International has collected many accounts of atrocities by Ethiopian troops.

Groups in opposition to the U.S. Ethiopian backed Transitional Federal Government have been launching counter-attacks, also resulting in civilian deaths, continuing the cycle of violence:

A good discussion of the whole situation here:

Part Two of the discussion here.

Al-Jazzera reported last week that peace talks are scheduled for May 31, but that “the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, the main opposition alliance which includes the Islamic Courts Union said it would not be involved in direct talks until the government agrees to a timetable for Ethiopian troops to withdraw.”