The Pentagon conducted an aerial strike against the extremist Al-Shabaab group in Somalia on Monday, US authorities said. It is reported the strike was aimed at the leader of the notorious network behind Kenya’s Westgate Mall massacre in 2013.
“US military forces conducted an operation in Somalia today against the Al-Shabaab network. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate,”said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.
Revealed: US operating secretly in Somalia since 1997
The American drone targeted Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane as he left a meeting of the group’s top leaders, a senior Somali intelligence official said, as quoted by AP. Godane is the leader of the Sunni extremist group, which is believed to have formed a partnership with Al-Qaeda.