Somali militants attacked by foreign troops

Early reports by outlets such as the BBC and New York Times say that a helicopter raid was carried out earlier today against possible members of the al-Shabaab Islamist group in southern Somalia. Witnesses say that two helicopters took part in the attack, which occurred about 250 kilometres south of Mogadishu in territory al-Shabaab largely controls. According to witnesses, the attackers wore uniforms with French insignia and arrived from the direction of a French naval vessel in the Indian Ocean. The raiders targeted a vehicle and killed at least two people, possibly including a senior militant leader. At this time, the French are denying their forces were involved in any actions in Somalia, though one French security adviser remains in the custody of insurgents after being captured in July (a fellow captive managed to recently escape).