Al-Shabaab commander confirmed killed in Somalia air strike
Maalim Ayman, who had a $10m bounty on his head, planned attack in Kenya in which two soldiers and a contractor were killed
22 December 2023 - 15:25
byAbdi Sheikh
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Mogadishu — Somali and US forces have killed a senior leader of jihadist group al-Shabaab who had planned numerous attacks in Somalia and Kenya, Somalia’s information minister said.
“Maalim Ayman ... was confirmed to have been killed in a joint operation by the Somali National Army with assistance from US forces on December 17th,” Daud Aweis said on his X account late on Thursday.
“Ayman was accountable for planning multiple lethal terrorist attacks in Somalia and nearby countries,” he said.
The US military’s Africom had conducted an air strike, its spokesperson said, but added that the strike’s target was yet to be confirmed.
The strike was conducted against the militant group near Jilib town in southern Somalia, Africomand the Somali information ministry said.
Ayman was on a US state department Rewards for Justice wanted list, with a $10m reward offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The department said he was responsible for preparing an attack on the Manda Bay military base in Kenya in January 2020 in which three Americans — one US military service member and two contractors — were killed. Al-Shabaab claimed the attack.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Al-Shabaab commander confirmed killed in Somalia air strike
Maalim Ayman, who had a $10m bounty on his head, planned attack in Kenya in which two soldiers and a contractor were killed
Mogadishu — Somali and US forces have killed a senior leader of jihadist group al-Shabaab who had planned numerous attacks in Somalia and Kenya, Somalia’s information minister said.
“Maalim Ayman ... was confirmed to have been killed in a joint operation by the Somali National Army with assistance from US forces on December 17th,” Daud Aweis said on his X account late on Thursday.
“Ayman was accountable for planning multiple lethal terrorist attacks in Somalia and nearby countries,” he said.
The US military’s Africom had conducted an air strike, its spokesperson said, but added that the strike’s target was yet to be confirmed.
The strike was conducted against the militant group near Jilib town in southern Somalia, Africomand the Somali information ministry said.
Ayman was on a US state department Rewards for Justice wanted list, with a $10m reward offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The department said he was responsible for preparing an attack on the Manda Bay military base in Kenya in January 2020 in which three Americans — one US military service member and two contractors — were killed. Al-Shabaab claimed the attack.
Reuters
IVO VEGTER: Africa: the new front line against jihadi terror
Virtual Wild West: Somalia cyberattack traced to Wyoming
Not enough funds to help conflict-hit states build homes equipped for climate change
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Israeli strikes on Gaza intensify
Egypt says talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have failed
Trade disruptions from Red Sea attacks start to snowball
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.