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US air strike in Somalia targets al-Shabab leader | US air strike in Somalia targets al-Shabab leader |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US says it has conducted an air strike against the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab in Somalia. | The US says it has conducted an air strike against the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab in Somalia. |
Its target was a "senior leader" in the area of Saakow, according to a statement by the US defence department. | Its target was a "senior leader" in the area of Saakow, according to a statement by the US defence department. |
"At this time, we do not assess there to be any civilian or bystander casualties," it said. | "At this time, we do not assess there to be any civilian or bystander casualties," it said. |
The US has supported the African Union (AU) force that has driven al-Shabab out of the capital Mogadishu and other towns since 2011. | The US has supported the African Union (AU) force that has driven al-Shabab out of the capital Mogadishu and other towns since 2011. |
In September, al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in a US air strike. | |
The US did not identify the leader targeted in the latest strike or say whether the strike was successful. | |
The statement continued: "We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information, when appropriate, as details become available." | The statement continued: "We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information, when appropriate, as details become available." |
The air strike came two days after top al-Shabab militant, Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi, gave himself up. | |
Mr Hersi, a leading figure in the militant group's intelligence wing, surrendered to police in the Gedo region. | |
In June 2012, the US state department offered $3m (£1.9m; 2.5m euros) for information leading to his capture. |
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