Battle of Ras Kamboni

Battle of Ras Kamboni
Part of the Somalia War (2006–2009) Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa
Battle of Ras Kamboni, US & Ethiopian Airstrikes
Date January 5–12, 2007 Location Near Ras Kamboni, Somalia 1°38′20″S 41°35′17″E / 1.63889°S 41.58806°E / -1.63889; 41.58806 Result ENDF/TFG and US forces victory ICU retreats from last major city Start of Islamist insurgency in southern Somalia
Belligerents
Ethiopia TFG  United States	Islamic Courts Union Ras Kamboni Brigades
Commanders and leaders
Gabre Heard Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale Abdirisak Afgadud Timothy Ghormley[1] Maritime Security: Patrick M. Walsh	Sharif Sheik Ahmed Yusuf Hassan Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade Abdirahman Janaqow
Strength
Unknown	500-1000
Casualties and losses
Around 60 dead, 100 wounded in airstrikes[2]

The Battle of Ras Kamboni took place during the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia at the start of 2007. It began Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) militia backed by United States military air power launched an offensive on Ras Kamboni, a town near the Kenyan border which was the last major urban stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) as it with withdrew deep into the south.

After withdrawing from Kismayo, much of the ICU's armed forces scattered into the scrublands of southern Somalia or withdrew to make a last stand at Ras Kamboni.^[3] The ICU forces at Ras Kamboni dug large defensive trenches around the town.^[4] The battle began on January 6, 2007, when Ethiopian and TFG forces launched their assault. On January 7, 2007, the United States publicly entered the conflict by launching airstrikes using AC-130 gunships and cruise missiles against what it claimed were Al Qaeda members operating within the ranks of the ICU. The town finally fell to the Ethiopian and TFG forces on January 12, 2007. Initially, the US claimed that it had successfully targeted Al-Qaeda, but after the attacks downgraded those killed to being 'associates with terrorists'.^[5] American forces reportedly killed hundreds of Somali fighters and civilians in a 'killing zone' between the Kenyan border, the Indian Ocean and advancing US backed Ethiopian troops.^[6]

International concern and controversy arose over civilian casualties in additional airstrikes around Ras Kamboni and in Afmadow province, and whether these were the result of U.S. actions or Ethiopian aircraft operating in the area.