Ethiopia hits Islamist with air attacks

AP/NY Times:

Ethiopian fighter jets pounded several Somali towns held by a powerful Islamic militia, a sharp escalation in violence that threatens to engulf the volatile Horn of Africa in widespread violence.

Ethiopia confirmed the attacks, the first time it has acknowledged that its troops were fighting in Somalia, though witnesses have reported their presence for weeks.

The airstrikes hit the strategic town of Belet Weyne on the Ethiopian border and surrounding villages up to 12 miles away, said Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley, an official with Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts. A resident of Belet Weyne -- Ayanle Husein Abdi -- said the strikes hit a strategic road and a recruiting center.

Ethiopia said it was acting to defend itself.

''After too much patience, the Ethiopian government has taken a self-defensive measure and has begun counterattacking the aggressive extremist forces,'' said Solomon Abebe, Ethiopia's foreign affairs spokesman.

Abdi said that the planes hit an Islamic center where the Islamic officials in the region enrolled volunteers who wanted to join the war. Another witness, Said Abukar Sahal, said the strikes were targeting the roads and defenses of the Islamic militia.

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The militants, who want to govern Somalia according to Islamic law, invited foreign Muslims on Saturday to join their holy war against Ethiopian troops. Many fear the fighting could escalate into a regional battle.

''Muslims are brothers and help each other,'' said Sheik Yusuf Indahaadde, national security chairman for the Council of Islamic Courts. ''We have a right to call our brothers and sisters to help us in this holy war.''

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There are no jihadi fighter jets or anti aircraft batteries. That is a key weakness of the jihadi movement. It is based on untrained light infantry carrying AK-47's and rocket propelled grenades. Neither are very effective in an air attack. It is doubtful that Ethiopia has precision munitions so there will probably be more collateral damage in its air attacks. However, control of the air will make it much more difficult for the jihadis to mass their forces. It may lead to more night operations by the Islamist religious bigots.

Bill Roggio has more details on the fighting and the Islamist use of Hezballah type tactics.