U.S. armed forces attacked Thursday what were reported to be terrorist facilities in Sudan and Afghanistan after linking them with the embassy bombings in Africa.
“Today we struck back,” said President Clinton, who cut short his vacation to return to Washington. “We have convincing evidence these groups played the key role in the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.”
Clinton said the strikes targeted a terrorist base in Afghanistan and a chemical weapons facility in Sudan. The facilities are linked to a Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, who U.S. officials say is a sponsor of terrorism.
Bombs exploded Aug. 7 at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In Kenya, the bombing killed 247 people. In Tanzania, 10 died.
Both Clinton and Pentagon officials said the reason for the military strikes was to protect American citizens stationed overseas from further attacks.
