Africom confirms ISIS leader Ahmed Maeleninine killed in recent airstrike in Somalia
The airstrike authorised by President Donald Trump was meant to degrade ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks, a top priority for his administration.
The much-publicised airstrike conducted in Somalia’s Golis mountains on February 1 killed 14 Islamic State (ISIS) militants among them Ahmed Maeleninine, a key recruiter, financier, and external operations leader, the United States Africa Command (Africom) has confirmed.
In a statement, Africom added that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia targeting senior ISIS-Somalia leadership in a series of cave complexes approximately 50 miles southeast of Bosaso.
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"The command's current assessment is that approximately 14 ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed and no civilians were harmed. Among those killed was Ahmed Maeleninine, a key ISIS recruiter, financier, and external operations leader responsible for the deployment of jihadists into the United States and across Europe," the statement said.
The airstrike authorised by President Donald Trump was meant to degrade ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks, a top priority for his administration.
"These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians." President Trump said in a post on social media at the time and shared a clip of the airstrike.
The attack was further confirmed by Somalia President Hassan Mohamud who said he had been informed of the strike targeting IS leadership in the northern part of the country.
"This latest operation reinforces the strong security partnership between Somalia and the United States in combating extremist threats. Somalia remains resolute in working with its allies to eliminate international terrorism and ensure regional stability," President Hassan said.
The killing of the 14 happened amid reports that ISIS has expanded its frequency and attacks in the Sahel region, making it the epicentre for fatalities from terror attacks in the world.
Last week, the UN Security Council heard that ISIL and its affiliates have continued to focus on expanding territorial control in Africa and raising funds to aid its activities, particularly in the Sahel region.
Though initially domiciled in Syria and Iraq, IS has expanded its presence to parts of Africa through its ASWJ affiliate in Mozambique, ISGS in Niger, JNIM, ISWAP in the Lake Chad basin and Cameroon, ISCAP in the DRC, IS-Somalia and supported cells and individuals in other countries.
The Somali branch of IS was formed in 2015 by a group of defectors from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabab terror group.
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