US strikes against Al Shabab in Somalia- Sept. 2014

[CougarKing]

Al Shabab again in the crosshairs of US forces:

Washington Post

U.S. carries out counterterrorism strike in Somalia

The U.S. military carried out a counterterrorism strike Monday against leaders of the militant group al-Shabab in Somalia, Pentagon officials said, although it was unclear if the operation was successful.

Journalists in Somalia reported that suspected U.S. drones fired missiles near the port city of Barawe, a stronghold for al-Shabab. In a rare acknowledgment of its clandestine military activities in Somalia, the Pentagon said it had conducted a counterterrorism operation there but gave no details.

“We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate.” Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement late Monday.

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[CougarKing]

some details:

Military.com

6 Militants Killed in US Somalia Strike

Associated Press | Sep 02, 2014 | by Abdi Guled

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A U.S. airstrike in Somalia killed at least six members of the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, possibly including its leader who was in a car that was hit.

The leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, has no heir apparent and if he has been killed, al-Shabab could ditch its association with al-Qaida and align itself with the Islamic State group, analysts say.
Al-Shabab's top leader was in one of two vehicles hit Monday night by a U.S. military strike, a commander of the Somali Islamic extremist group said Tuesday, but he would not say if Godane was among the six militants killed.

The two vehicles were headed toward the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabab's main base, when they were hit, Abu Mohammed told The Associated Press.

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[CougarKing]

Hopefully no one's willing to take his place.

Navy Times

Pentagon: Terrorist leader killed in airstrike on Somalia
Sep. 5, 2014 - 11:56AM

The U.S. military has killed the leader of an al-Qaida-linked Islamic group in a Somalia airstrike, the Pentagon announced Friday.

“We have confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the co-founder of al-Shabaab, has been killed,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. “The U.S. military undertook operations against Godane on Sept. 1, which led to his death. 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.”

Godane has claimed that al-Shabaab was responsible for last year’s attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in which at least 67 people are reported to have been killed.

The White House issued a statement Friday calling Godane’s death “a major symbolic and operational loss to the largest al-Qaida affiliate in Africa.”

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