WASHINGTON – The Pentagon says the leader of the Somalia-based al-Shabab (ahl-shah-BAHB') extremist group was the target of U.S. military airstrikes that struck an encampment and a vehicle Monday night.
Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby says the results of the strike are being assessed and he can't confirm if Somali Ahmed Abdi Godane, the rebel leader, was hit. He says the strike against Godane was conducted by special operations forces with manned and unmanned aircraft firing hellfire missiles and precision-guided munitions.
He says if Godane was killed it would be a significant blow to the organization and its abilities.
Godane is also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr and is the spiritual leader of the al-Qaida linked group. The U.S. offered a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to his arrest.
