U.S. Enters Somali Civil War

According to CBS News, the U.S. has joined Ethiopia, the Somali TNG, and Kenya in the annihilation of the remaining Somali Islamists, who are concentrated in forests near the Kenyan border. U.S. involvement is limited to coastal patrols and - now - airstrikes. Since the U.S. government refuses to confirm the attacks yet, we don't have a good idea of the scope or targets, but this may represent an important turning point in the East African conflict.

Update: Shabelle Media Network reports from Mogadishu, posted in AllAfrica, that the TNG confirms and supports the U.S. air strikes, mentioning the 'Q-word':

Somalia's President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, who has held a press conference at the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, in the capital Mogadishu, said he firmly supports the American air bombardment on suspected al-Qaeda hideouts in southern Somalia last night.

I am incredulous of the target really being al-Qaeda, but it's certainly a helpful excuse for both the U.S. and the TNG.