The U.S. Has Launched Airstrikes Against Al-Shabaab In Somalia

The strikes, which have killed six militants, were apparently aimed at killing the terrorist group’s leader. It is not yet clear if he was among those killed.





















Six people are believed to have been killed in the strike on two vehicles in the south of the country. An al-Shabaab member who spoke to the Associated Press said that the network's leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was in one of the vehicles, but would not confirm if he was among the dead.

U.S. officials speaking to NBC News said that a military drone had launched Hellfire missiles at at least two vehicles in southern Somalia.

In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said: "We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate."

The strikes took place a day after the group attacked government facilities in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

















Al-Shabaab is the terrorist organization that took credit for the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, which left 67 dead and nearly 200 injured.



A woman and children hide inside the Westgate Mall during the attack on Sept. 21, 2013.


AP Photo/The New York Times, Tyler Hicks














The Somali government claimed there were casualties as a result of the drone strike, but gave no details as to whether the main target had been killed, Agence France-Presse reported.



A Somali government soldier walks through the site of a suspected al-Shabaab attack in Mogadishu in March this year.


Omar Faruk / Reuters




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