Somali terror group leader responsible for Kenya mall massacre killed by US strike

U.S. airstrikes earlier this week killed the leader of the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia, the Pentagon said Friday. President Barack Obama said the death of Ahmed Abdi Godane demonstrated U.S. counterterrorism resolve and was an example of his deliberate approach to dismantling al-Qaida affiliated groups. The Pentagon’s press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, announced the death in a brief written statement. It took the Pentagon four days to conclusively determine that Godane had not survived Monday’s airstrikes. Al-Shabab has not publicly confirmed Godane’s death.

We have been very systematic and methodical in going after these kinds of organizations…That deliberation allows us to do it right, but have no doubt: We will continue to do what is necessary to protect the American people.

US President Barack Obama

Obama, speaking at the conclusion of a NATO summit in Newport, Wales, told reporters the success against al-Shabab should leave no doubt about his determination to degrade and eventually destroy the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. He faces mounting pressure to take more aggressive military action against the Islamic State, which evolved from an al-Qaida affiliate that sprouted in Iraq in 2004. U.S. officials had said after the strike on Monday that U.S. special operations forces using manned and drone aircraft had destroyed an encampment and a vehicle using several Hellfire missiles and laser-guided munitions. But they did not confirm that Godane had been killed until Friday. The State Department declared al-Shabab a terrorist organization in February 2008. The implications of the group’s loss of Godane are unclear. “The individual who takes his place will live in fear,” said Army Col. Steven Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

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