#US forces carried out a raid this week that killed a senior #ISIS commander in #Somalia and ten of his associates, Biden administration officials say.https://t.co/OP47euC5Cx
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 26, 2023
“Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the group’s operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.
US forces carried out a raid this week that killed a senior ISIS commander in Somalia and ten of his associates, officials said on Thursday.
The operation was ordered by US President Joe Biden and carried out on Wednesday. Bilal al-Sudani was the senior ISIS figure targeted and killed, according to a statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
“Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the group’s operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan,” Austin said. “This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad.”
No civilians were harmed during the operation, senior US administration officials said.
An official told reports that US special operations forces raided a cave complex in the mountains of northern Somalia, hoping to capture al-Sudani initially.
Officials said that Biden was briefed about the operation last week and approved it this week.
Last year, the Biden administration redeployed hundreds of US troops to Somalia, reversing a decision by former President Donald Trump to withdraw the forces that were on a counterterrorism mission.
“Al-Shabab has taken advantage of Somali instability and fractious politics to become al-Qaeda’s largest and wealthiest global affiliate. It exerts influence essentially throughout the country of Somalia,” a US official said at the time.
Airstrike targets ISIS militants in Somalia’s Puntland
[ShabelleMedia] An
...KABOOM!...
was reported in the Somalia’s northeastern Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
state targeting ISIS hard boys.
An official in Bari region confirmed to Shabelle radio that the strike happened in Almiskad mountains, where an ISIS affiliate has a training and hideout camps.
There was no immediate confirmation of the casualties as well as which country belongs to the warplanes.
Puntland faces double threats from al-Shabaab
...... the personification of Somali state failure...
and ISIS which are stationed in Bari region’s hills.
US Africa command (Africom) trains Puntland special forces (PSF) that is fighting to contain the expansion of the hard boy groups in Bari.
Related:
Puntland: 2023-01-21 Somali army base in Galmudug state comes under Al-Shabaab attack: SF deputy chief and six soldier toes up, along with 100 turbans
Puntland: 2023-01-18 Somalia troops praised for the capture of key towns from Al-Shabaab
Puntland: 2023-01-18 Somali troops dislodge third town from Al-Shabaab in two days
Puntland: 2023-01-21 Somali army base in Galmudug state comes under Al-Shabaab attack: SF deputy chief and six soldier toes up, along with 100 turbans
Puntland: 2023-01-18 Somalia troops praised for the capture of key towns from Al-Shabaab
Puntland: 2023-01-18 Somali troops dislodge third town from Al-Shabaab in two days