BLUF: #2 is toes up. See also here.
[Garowe] A top al-Shabaab...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
commander was on Saturday, 1st October killed in an operation instigated by the Somali National Army [SNA with the support of international partners, in the latest crackdown against the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
Abdulkadir Nadir, who has been in a hideout, was killed by the military officers with the assistance of the foreign forces believed to be Americans, in what has been described as a huge success by top military officials in the country.
The commander, whom the US government had placed a $3 million bounty on his head, was killed around the Haramka area in Middle Jubba where the gunnies have been predominant in the last couple of years. The operation took place on 1st October according to those in the know-how.
Somali National Army with the assistance of the US Africa Command, ATMIS, and the local militia has been fighting al-Shabaab, making tremendous gains according to officials. The military has been able to recapture several towns in the southern part of the country in recent weeks.
Nadir, the Ex-Ashabaab finance head was first in line to replace current emir Abu Ubaidah, who is also wanted by the US government. Ubaidah has been in charge since 2015 after the death of Ahmed Godan, who was killed in a US-sponsored
...KABOOM!...
in central Somalia.
The al-Shabaab gunnies have been fighting to overthrow the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, but President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has insisted that the group will be completely deflated in the coming months thus the ongoing operation across the country.
Recently, the United States also pledged to support the current administration of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in fighting al-Shabaab. Already, the US has redeployed over 500 elite soldiers who are working closely with the Danab Special forces in the war against the holy warriors.
Abdullahi Nadir aka Abdullahi Yare and Ubeyda was one of the co-founders of al-Qaeda’s linked hard boys.
He held various positions within al-Shabaab.
Abdullahi Yare was close to the former ringleader Ahmed Abdi Godane as well as the current Amir Abu Ubaidah. At this time, he was the head of Da’wa.
More about the man from Deutsche Welle:
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ABDULLAHI NADIR?"This leader... was the head preacher of the group and one of the most notorious members of the Shabab group," the ministry statement said.
"He was former head of the Shura council and the group's director for finances," the ministry said. The Shura council is a consultation group within al-Shabab.
According to the ministry, Nadir was a co-founder of the group and was next in line for leadership. Al-Shabab's current leader, Ahmed Diriye, is sick.
[Twitter]
Abdullahi Nadir, a top leader of #Alshabab terrorists, wanted by Somali government for long time has been killed in operation conducted by Somali National Army and international security partners in Haramka village in Middle Jubba region, on 01-10-2022.#Somalia https://t.co/yJsfQL6Wts
— Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism (@MOISOMALIA) October 2, 2022