The Somali National Army (SNA) killed Yusuf Dhegnaas, a senior leader of the Al-Shabaab* terrorist group, in an airstrike near El-Ba’ad in the Middle Shabelle region, state media reported.
The area has been the site of intense clashes between government forces and militants for days. According to the reports, Dhegnaas coordinated Al-Shabaab operations in Middle Shabelle. His elimination marks a significant blow to the group’s activities in the region.
The operation was carried out by the SNA’s elite Danab Special Forces, trained by US military advisors and supported by Pentagon reconnaissance drones.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently vowed to wage “total war” against Al-Shabaab, with the national army backed by local militias and African Union forces.
*A terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other states