Somalia: High Shebab Commander Killed in American Strike

Text by: Sébastien Nemeth Follow

According to the American press, a “surgical strike”, carried out on February 22, eliminated Bashir Qoorgaab, a high commander of the Somali Islamist group Shebab, presented as the possible sponsor of the attack on an American base, on January 5, Kenya.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi,

Bashir Qoorgaab, presented as one of the brains behind the attack on an American base in Kenya , was reportedly killed on February 22 by an American strike, according to the American command in Africa (Africom). On January 5, a group belonging to the Somali Shebab terrorists penetrated inside Camp Simba, located along the Kenyan coast, not far from Somalia. The Islamists then killed three Americans and destroyed six planes.

The Islamist was killed on February 22 in Saakow, 300 kilometers west of the capital Mogadishu, a locality presented as a bastion of the terrorist movement. Africom said his wife was also killed in the bombing. She was considered by Washington to be an active activist.

Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud, alias Bashir Qoorgaab, was a seasoned commander. His head was priced for $ 5 million. Only the current head of the shebab, Ahmed Diriye, is wanted with a higher bonus.

According to specialists, Bashir Qoorgaab was the head of several units, some of which were installed in Kenya. The brigade baptized "Jaysh Ayman" of which he was presented as the chief, would be at the origin of the operation of January 5.

Washington revenge

The operation of the shebabs against the Simba camp had dealt a blow to the American army. Last month, before Congress, General Stephen Townsend, commander of Africom, had admitted that his men were ill-prepared for an attack.

The elimination of Bashir Qoorgaab therefore sounds like a revenge for Washington. General Townsend also recalled that after this successful strike, " those who attack American interests will continue to be pursued relentlessly ".

► Read also : Kenya: 3 American victims in the shebab attack on the Simba base

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• Somalia
• United States
• Kenya
• Shebabs
• Terrorism

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