US to probe Somali airstrike claims

The United States said it will investigate the airstrike that killed 22 soldiers and wounded 15 other people at Somali army base, 30 kilometers east of Galkaayo town in central Somalia.

Somali government on Thursday demanded an explanation from the United States on an airstrike which it said had killed 22 people

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said  the U.S. would “look at the reports claiming that civilians had been killed, if they are credible and if they are will investigate them.

“We will look at the reports to see if they are credible, and if they are credible we’ll investigate them,” said Davis.

Osman Isse Nor, Security Minister for regional Galmudug State, told reporters that airstrike only targeted their forces, saying no Al-Shabaab militants were killed during the bombardment, an incident which sparked street demonstrations against U.S.forces.

“The attack occurred at our army base, 30 kilometers east of this town and killed 22 soldiers, wounded 16 others and destroyed armed vehicles. The U.S drones carried out the attack, but we believe that the Puntland security forces gave them (United States) wrong information,” Nor said.

The minister said that the attack happened at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and called on Washington to give response to the latest deadly incident which saw many residents held street protests against the killings.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Galkayo town which is located few killometres away from  where the strike took place, on Wednesday, angry at the U.S. action.

Irate residents chanted anti-U.S. slogans and burned American flags, calling on Galmudug regional state and the Somali federal government to respond to what they called “aggression”.