U.S. strike kills Al Qaida leader in central Somalia
CAIRO — The U.S. military has assassinated Al Qaida's network
commander in Somalia.
In what capped more than a year-long effort, U.S. aircraft struck
and killed Aden Hashi Ayro, commander of the Al Qaida-aligned Al-Shabab,
the armed wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement. The U.S. State
Department regards Al Shabab a terrorist organization.
Ayro's brother, another Al Qaida commander, and 11 others were killed
in the air strike on Thursday in the central Somali town of Dusamareeb.
Another top commander was identified as Muhidin Mohamud Omar. The United
States has not claimed responsibility, Middle East Newsline reporte.
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The death of the Al Qaida commanders came as Al Shabab has expanded
operations in Somalia. After being driven out by the Ethiopian Army in
December 2006, Al Shabab has captured several Somali towns and seized
weapons from the nation's military.
Ayro received his training in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. Al Shabab
reported the death of Ayro as well as his colleagues.
Hours after the assassination, the U.S. Defense Department confirmed the
attack in Somalia. The Pentagon did not identify the Al Qaida target.
"When you have something like this, there is a certain amount of
analysis that goes on," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "While you
are conducting that analysis, you want to be careful not to provide any
information that potentially could be of use to the enemy."