US Kills Al-Shabab Leader in Somalia Air Strikes

On Monday last week, US forces executed air strikes in Somalia, targeting the leader of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, Al-Shabab.

Although there were casualties as a result of the air strike, for a while, it was unclear whether the Al-Shabab leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane was one of them.

However, the Pentagon confirmed Friday, that Godane was indeed one of those casualties, USA Today reports.

In a statement Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said:

“Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al-Shabaab…The United States works in coordination with its friends, allies and partners to counter the regional and global threats posed by violent extremist organizations.”

The White House has pledged to continue the fight against al-Shabaab:

“Even as this is an important step forward in the fight against al-Shabaab, the United States will continue to use the tools at our disposal — financial, diplomatic, intelligence and military — to address the threat that al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups pose to the United States and the American people.”