The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab has dealt yet another huge blow following the recent killing of one of its key commanders within it ranks. Its more than 48 hours since the commander was killed in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the vicinity of Saakow, Middle Juba region of Somalia and the group has remained mute on the incident.
The militant high-ranking commander identified as Abdikadir Osman Yarow Chichana alias Abdikadir Commandos was very instrumental in group’s military operations as well as training of its fighters. He was also the head of training for Hizbul Islam militant group, a core element in the formation of the Islamist terrorist group.
Abdikadir Commandos is believed to be behind the series of attacks on foreign troops in Somalia especially the Ethiopian contingent.
In divergence tactic Al-Shabaab propaganda media wing claimed that its soldiers had conducted multiple explosions that killed at least 7 Somali National Army besides wounding a US Forces member. But in a statement, the US Africa Command dismissed the reports as misleading propaganda, a routinely false tradecraft commonly used by the militant group.
In the past one week, the militant group has dealt significant blows as the CT – operators have been able to conduct a number of successful counter raids on Al-Shabaab’s positions and hideouts; among them the killing of a bomb maker near southwestern town of Kurtunwarey, killing of three Al-Shabaab militants in El-Gellow, Middle Shabelle, Puntland forces killing 10 Al-Shabaab militants in the outskirts of Bosaso town in the mountainous northern part of Bari region as well as killing of another senior member in Daru-Salam area in Lower Shabelle region.
Abdulkadir Commandos who was on military radar for a while was killed in UAV strike in the vicinity of Saakow, Middle Juba, not far from where another notorious and senior Al-Shabaab operative Bashir Qorgab was killed early this year.
