The latest US airstrike that was conducted on October 1. in support of the Somali National Army (SNA) confirmed to have killed a top leader and a co-founder of the Al-Shabaab extremist group.
In coordination with partner forces, US conducted the airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab network in the vicinity of Jilib, the extremist’s group headquarter, Middle Juba, about 370 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu.
US Africa Command initial assessment indicated that the strike killed an Al-Shabaab leader and no civilians were killed or injured in the operation.
Further reports now indicate that Al-Shabaab leader and co-founder of the group, Abdullahi Nadir was killed in this airstrike in Haramka village of Middle Juba region, southern Somalia.
Abdullahi Nadir had a $3 million bounty on his head by the United States and the Somali government described him as one of the most resourceful members of Al-Shabaab. He had been close to the former emir of Al-Shabaab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, and current leader Ahmed Abu Diriye.
The President of Somalia in a recent address vowed to fight the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab that continue to tax, extort residents, business people and travelers. While Somali security forces say they have made gains on the battlefield in recent weeks while fighting alongside local self-defense groups, its notable of the group’s surge besides strengthened capability, conducting deadly raids over the past few weeks, burning houses, destroying wells and beheading civilians in parts of central and southern Somalia.
