Al Shabab Leader Killed in Air Strike in Somalia

A U.S. drone strike has killed a senior Al Shabab leader near Kunya Barowe in the Lower Shabelle region, about 257 km northeast of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Sheikh Mohamed Mire, a long-time figure in Al Shabab who was head of the regions (Wilayaat), was killed in the U.S. air raid, according to a statement released by Al Shabab.

Mire is known for his struggle against foreign troops in East Africa, dedicating 40 years to the campaign, which he described as a fight against foreign invasion, the group said.

The Somali government also confirmed his death and pledged to continue its war on eradicating Al Shabab, but the U.S. military has yet to comment.

In 2022, the U.S. designated him as a terrorist in support of the Somali government’s efforts against Al Shabab.

The U.S. described him as a senior Shabab leader responsible for decision-making and leading the group’s interior wing, overseeing various activities in Somalia.

In 2020, the United Nations Panel of Experts on Somalia said Mire was a leader in charge of Al Shabab’s taxation branch.

Driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 by Somali army and African Union troops, Al Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, continues to carry out deadly attacks.

For over a decade, the group has been fighting to impose a hardline interpretation of Sharia law in Somalia.

Al Shabab still controls large swaths of southern and central Somalia, from where it is believed to launch attacks on military bases and the capital.

Source » mareeg.com