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US strike in Somalia 'killed al-Shabab intelligence chief' | US strike in Somalia 'killed al-Shabab intelligence chief' |
(1 day later) | |
A leader of the al-Shabab Islamist group was killed by a US air strike on Monday, US and Somali officials say. | |
The intelligence chief, named as Tahlil Abdishakur, was part of a unit responsible for suicide attacks, security officials said. | |
US defence chiefs have confirmed that the al-Shabab leader died. | |
Washington has supported an African Union (AU) force, which has driven the fundamentalist group from strongholds across Somalia since 2011. | |
The Pentagon said US forces conducted the strike using an unmanned aircraft, or drone, in the area of Saakow, about 320km (200 miles) west of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. | |
In a statement, US officials said the death of Tahlil would "significantly impact" al-Shabab's ability to conduct attacks "against the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Somali people, and US allies and interests in the region". | |
Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said that two other al-Shabab members had also died in the operation. | |
The agency said Tahlil had just replaced al-Shabab's former intelligence chief, who was arrested a few days ago. | |
Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi gave himself up to the Somali government three days earlier. | |
Mr Hersi, a leading figure in the militant group's intelligence wing, surrendered to police in the Gedo region. | Mr Hersi, a leading figure in the militant group's intelligence wing, surrendered to police in the Gedo region. |
In June 2012, the US state department offered $3m (£1.9m; 2.5m euros) for information leading to his capture. | In June 2012, the US state department offered $3m (£1.9m; 2.5m euros) for information leading to his capture. |
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