The U.S. military is confirming it killed a high-level commander of the al-Shabab extremist group with an airstrike in Somalia over the weekend, like reported by ap.org .
A statement Friday says the strike on July 30 killed Ali Mohamed Hussein, also known as Ali Jabal.
The statement says he was “was responsible for leading al-Shabab forces operating in the Mogadishu and Banadiir regions in planning and executing attacks against the capital of Mogadishu.”
The U.S. Africa Command statement says the airstrike occurred near Tortoroow, an al-Shabab stronghold in Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia.
President Donald Trump earlier this year approved expanded military operations against al-Shabab, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.
The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab is the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa.
