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Air raid 'kills Somali militants' Air raid kills Somali militants
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of the military wing of an Islamist insurgent organisation in Somalia has been killed in an air strike, reports say. The leader of the military wing of an Islamist insurgent organisation in Somalia has been killed in an overnight air strike.
Aden Hashi Ayro, al-Shabab's military commander, died when his home in the central town of Dusamareb was bombed.Aden Hashi Ayro, al-Shabab's military commander, died when his home in the central town of Dusamareb was bombed.
Eight other people, including a senior militant, are also reported dead. Ten other people, including a senior militant, are also reported dead.
Al-Shabab, considered a terrorist group by the US, was the military wing of the Somali Sharia courts movement until Ethiopian troops ousted them in 2006. A US military spokesman told the BBC that it had attacked what he called a known al-Qaeda target in Somalia, but refused to give further details.
Al-Shabab, considered a terrorist group by the US, is the military wing of the Somali Sharia courts movement, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), until Ethiopian troops ousted them in 2006.
The group has since regrouped and is in effect in control of large parts of central and southern Somalia.The group has since regrouped and is in effect in control of large parts of central and southern Somalia.
'Infidel planes''Infidel planes'
An al-Shabab spokesman, Mukhtar Robow Adumansur, told the BBC that Ayro was killed in the attack, along with his brother. An al-Shabab spokesman, Mukhtar Robow Adumansur, told the BBC that Ayro was killed along with his brother in the attack.
Locals said the attacks happened at about 0300 (2400 GMT). Locals said it happened at about 0300 (2400 GMT).
Profile: Somalia's Islamic 'lads'Q&A: Somali conflict "We heard a huge explosion and when we ran out of our house we saw balls of smoke and flames coming out of house," Nur Geele told the BBC. Profile: Somalia's Islamic 'lads'Q&A: Somali conflict
"We heard a huge explosion and when we ran out of our house we saw balls of smoke and flames coming out of house," Nur Geele told the BBC.
The house was totally destroyed to the ground, also other houses nearby," local elder Ahmed Mumin Jama said.The house was totally destroyed to the ground, also other houses nearby," local elder Ahmed Mumin Jama said.
Ayro received training in Afghanistan in the 1990s and was an instrumental military figure as the Islamic Courts took control of Mogadishu in the second half of 2006, says the head of the BBC's Somali Service Yusuf Garad. Ayro received training in Afghanistan in the 1990s and was an instrumental military figure as the UIC took control of Mogadishu in the second half of 2006, says the head of the BBC's Somali Service Yusuf Garad.
Residents said the air strike was carried out by US planes, but there has been no confirmation of this.
The US says al-Shabab is part of the al-Qaeda network, although correspondents say it is impossible to accurately establish those links.The US says al-Shabab is part of the al-Qaeda network, although correspondents say it is impossible to accurately establish those links.
Al-Shabab leaders say it is a purely Somali movement and they deny any involvement with al-Qaeda.
'Serious threat'
In its annual report on terrorism published on Wednesday, the US said al-Shabab militants in Somalia, along with al-Qaeda militants in east Africa, posed "the most serious threat to American and allied interests in the region".In its annual report on terrorism published on Wednesday, the US said al-Shabab militants in Somalia, along with al-Qaeda militants in east Africa, posed "the most serious threat to American and allied interests in the region".
Al-Shabab has been at the forefront of a guerrilla insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian allies since early 2007.Al-Shabab has been at the forefront of a guerrilla insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian allies since early 2007.
In recent weeks, they have briefly captured several towns in central and southern Somalia before withdrawing.In recent weeks, they have briefly captured several towns in central and southern Somalia before withdrawing.
The US has launched several air strikes against suspected extremist targets in Somalia in recent months.The US has launched several air strikes against suspected extremist targets in Somalia in recent months.
It has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti and has accused Somali Islamists of harbouring those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. It has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti, and has accused Somali Islamists of harbouring those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Islamists denied this, as well as reports they had links to al-Qaeda. The Islamists denied this.
Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991.Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991.
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