Two Al Shabaab commanders killed

Somalia: An air strike in southern Somalia
has killed two senior commanders of the
militant Islamist group, Al-Shabaab,
residents have told the BBC.
The strike destroyed the vehicle the
militants were travelling in between the
towns of Jilib and Barawe, seen as a major
base of Al-Shabaab, they said.
The US launched a failed raid in Barawe
earlier this month to capture an Al-
Shabaab commander.
Al-Shabab is the main Al-Qaeda-linked
group in East Africa.
A Kenyan military source told the BBC
their troops had raided Jilib, and that
there might have been some casualties.
However, correspondents say it is unlikely
that they carried out the air strike.
Residents of Jilib, some 120km north of
the port of Kismayo, told the BBC that it
was probably a drone attack that killed
the Al-Shabaab commanders.
One of those killed was explosives expert
Ibrahim Ali, also known as Anta Anta or
Abu Ali, Somali Interior Minister
Abdikarim Hussein Guled told state radio.
This was confirmed by an Al-Shabaab
member speaking to the Associated
Press.
“This afternoon, I heard a big crash and
saw a drone disappearing far into the sky,
at least two militants died,” local resident
Hassan Nur was quoted by Reuters news
agency as saying on Monday.
“I witnessed a Suzuki car burning, many
Al-Shabaab men came to the scene. I
could see them carry the remains of two
corpses,” he said.
“It was a heavy missile that the drone
dropped. Many cars were driving ahead of
me but the drone targeted this Suzuki.”
US commandos raided Barawe after the
attack but had to retreat after meeting
heavy resistance.
The US was believed to have sought to
capture Al-Shabaab commander
Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, also
known as Ikrima.
Barawe residents say Ikrima is an Al-
Shabaab leader with responsibility for
logistics, who is usually accompanied by
about 20 well-armed guards.
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