A U.S. drone struck and killed a top militant leader of the group al-Shabaab earlier this week, according to an official announcement by the State Department. Specific details about the operation were not made available in order to ensure operational security, officials said.
The strike carried out on Saturday in coordination with other regional partners was conducted in Tortoroow, an al-Shabaab stronghold in southern Somalia. No civilian casualties were reported.
Somalia’s militant group a-Shabaab. File Photo.
“We can now confirm that that strike killed one of their senior leaders, Ali Muhammed Hussein, also known as Ali Jabal,” said Pentagon Spokesman Navy Cpt. Jeff Davis.
“Ali Jabal was a senior al-Shabaab terrorist and one of the top leaders of the organization responsible for leading al-Shabaab forces in the Mogadishu and Banaadir regions, in planning and executing attacks against the capital Mogadishu.
“His removal disrupts al-Shabaab’s ability to plan and conduct attacks in Mogadishu and to plan and coordinate attacks with al-Shabaab regional commanders.”
A statement from U.S Africa Command (AfriCom) said,
“Al-Shabab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al-Shabab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our allies.”
Fireman tries to extinguish fire in front of a restaurant that was attacked by al-Shabaab as in Mogadishu. Credit: Reuters
The drone strike which took out the al-Shabab leader was conducted within the parameters authorized by President Trump in March, which allow U.S. military forces to conduct strikes and go after al-Shabaab within a defined area in Somalia in support of partner forces.
Ali also served as the al-Shabaab’s shadow governor for Mogadishu and had been one of the organization’s most vocal and outspoken officials.
Al-Shabaab often carries out deadly attacks on high targets in Mogadishu including African Union checkpoints, Somali military facilities, hotels and areas surrounding the Presidential Palace.
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