leader Godane killed in operationIJ
Close on the heels of the criticism of President Barack Obama’s handling of the ISIS in Syria, the United States has carried out a military operation against al-Shabab, the terror outfit affiliated to al-Qaeda, in Somalia, reportedly targeting the group’s leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.
The fate of the 37-year-old leader, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, was not immediately clear. But the Somali official said intelligence suggests that Godane along with other militants might have been killed in the operation.
The Somalian Embassy in Washington went on to tweet Tuesday morning that Godane had been killed, along with “seven senior members” of his group.
The Pentagon, however, declined to give out details. “We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate,” Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm John Kirby said in a statement, confirming the operation that took place on Monday night.
Al-Shabab hit the headlines last September with its massive terror attack on an upscale Nairobi mall that killed at least 67 people.
Reports from Mogadishu quoted a senior Somali intelligence official as saying that the US drone strike targeted Godane as he left a meeting of the group’s top leaders.
The drone strike that took place in a forest about 170 km south of Mogadhishu was reported to be so ferocious that “it jolted the entire region”. The group, which has been trying to topple the Somali Government, is said to train its militant cadres in the forest area.
At least four missiles were believed to have been launched targeting a convoy of the group’s top leaders, CNN quoted Somali intelligence officials as saying.