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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, Somali officials say. 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 Abdishakur, was part of a unit responsible for suicide attacks, security officials said. The intelligence chief, named as Tahlil Abdishakur, was part of a unit responsible for suicide attacks, security officials said.
US defence chiefs did not confirm whether the al-Shabab leader had died. 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 the country since 2011. Washington has supported an African Union (AU) force, which has driven the fundamentalist group from strongholds across Somalia since 2011.
On Monday the US said it had targeted a "senior leader" of al-Shabab in the area of Saakow, about 320km (200 miles) west of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. 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, the defence department said it was "assessing the results of the operation". 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".
But Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said on Tuesday that the air strike had killed a militant it identified as Abdishakur, also known as Tahliil. Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said that two other al-Shabab members had also died in the operation.
It said he had just replaced al-Shabab's former intelligence chief, who was arrested a few days ago. The agency said Tahlil had just replaced al-Shabab's former intelligence chief, who was arrested a few days ago.
The agency added that two other al-Shabab members had also died in the joint US-Somali operation. Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi gave himself up to the Somali government three days earlier.
The development came three days after another top al-Shabab militant, Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi, gave himself up to the Somali government.
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.