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| Bilal al-Sudani: US forces kill Islamic State Somalia leader in cave complex | Bilal al-Sudani: US forces kill Islamic State Somalia leader in cave complex |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Somali soldiers have been fight militant jihadists for years | Somali soldiers have been fight militant jihadists for years |
| US forces have killed an Islamic State leader, Bilal al-Sudani, and 10 of his operatives in northern Somalia, American officials say. | US forces have killed an Islamic State leader, Bilal al-Sudani, and 10 of his operatives in northern Somalia, American officials say. |
| He was killed after US special forces raided a remote mountainous cave complex hoping to capture him. | He was killed after US special forces raided a remote mountainous cave complex hoping to capture him. |
| "Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa," Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. | "Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa," Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. |
| He also allegedly funded the group's activities globally, Mr Austin added. | He also allegedly funded the group's activities globally, Mr Austin added. |
| Analysts say the fact that US troops were sent to kill or capture Sudani, rather than using a less risky drone strike, indicates his significance. | Analysts say the fact that US troops were sent to kill or capture Sudani, rather than using a less risky drone strike, indicates his significance. |
| In recent years, the Islamic State group has reportedly expanded its activities into several African countries, including Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. | In recent years, the Islamic State group has reportedly expanded its activities into several African countries, including Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| However Islamic State is a relatively small group in Somalia, with the al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab far more prominent - it controls many southern areas. | However Islamic State is a relatively small group in Somalia, with the al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab far more prominent - it controls many southern areas. |
| Prior to joining Islamic State, Sudani allegedly did operational work for al-Shabab, assisting with training fighters. | Prior to joining Islamic State, Sudani allegedly did operational work for al-Shabab, assisting with training fighters. |
| He is accused of playing a "financial role with specialized skills which made him an important target for US counterterrorism action," an anonymous US official told the AFP news agency. | He is accused of playing a "financial role with specialized skills which made him an important target for US counterterrorism action," an anonymous US official told the AFP news agency. |
| The operation to target Sudani is said to have taken months to plan. | The operation to target Sudani is said to have taken months to plan. |
| Somalia has welcomed the killing of Sudani, according to the Voice of America news site. | Somalia has welcomed the killing of Sudani, according to the Voice of America news site. |
| "It's a very positive and welcoming," said Somali government security adviser Hussein Sheikh Ali. | "It's a very positive and welcoming," said Somali government security adviser Hussein Sheikh Ali. |
| He stressed that Islamic State was not as big a threat as al-Shabab in Somalia, but that Sudani was "dangerous". | |
| "The message is, that the leaders of all terror groups in Somalia are not safe," he continued. | "The message is, that the leaders of all terror groups in Somalia are not safe," he continued. |
| IS Somalia is one of the group's smaller branches - claiming 32 attacks in 2022, mostly in the capital of Mogadishu. | |
| One UN report from last year estimated the number of Islamic State fighters in Somalia was around 200 to 280 and that the country is used as a significant base to finance IS activity in Iraq and the Levant, but this has not been independently verified by the BBC. | |
| Just last week IS published a rare propaganda video from its Somalia branch, which showed combat footage of clashes with Somali forces in a mountainous region in the north-eastern Bari region. | |
| The raid comes less than a week after the US said a drone strike had killed 30 al-Shabab militants. | The raid comes less than a week after the US said a drone strike had killed 30 al-Shabab militants. |
| In recent months, pro-government forces in Somalia have been making progress against al-Shabab. | In recent months, pro-government forces in Somalia have been making progress against al-Shabab. |