Somalia, U.S. Forces Kill Al Shabaab Leader Behind Numerous Attacks In Region – Official
In a successful joint operation between Somali and U.S. forces, Maalim Ayman, a senior leader of the militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab, was confirmed dead.
Somalia’s Information Minister, Daud Aweis, announced the operation’s success via his official X account late on Thursday, revealing that Ayman had been eliminated in a coordinated effort by the Somali National Army with support from U.S. forces on December 17th.
Ayman had been a key figure behind the planning and execution of multiple deadly terrorist attacks not only within Somalia but also in neighboring countries, stated Aweis.
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The U.S. military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed conducting an airstrike in the area, near Jilib town in southern Somalia, though the specific target of the strike was yet to be officially confirmed.
Both AFRICOM and the Somali Information Ministry corroborated the location and nature of the strike against the militant group.
Maalim Ayman had been prominently featured on the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice wanted list, with a substantial $10 million reward offered for information leading to his capture or conviction.
According to the U.S. State Department, Ayman was notably responsible for orchestrating an attack on a military base in Kenya back in January 2020, resulting in the deaths of three Americans—an American military service member and two contractors.
Somalia, U.S. Forces Kill Al Shabaab Leader Behind Numerous Attacks In Region – Official