US forces have, in unconfirmed reports, killed al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Diriye in an air strike sanctioned by US President Donald Trump.
Somalia President Mohamed Farmajo in a statement said he endorsed the attack in partnership with the US government.
Also killed in the lethal strikes was Abdirahim Mohamed Warsame alias Mahad Karate, the man behind the Garissa University College attack in 2015 that claimed the lives of 152 people mostly students. Karate was a commander involved in training the Amniyat, the wing of al-Shabaab that carried out the attack on Garissa University College.
Diriye was the leader of al-Shabaab from 2014, after former leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed.
If the reports are confirmed, then Al shabaab will be in shambles as the two were the strategists and main coordinators of the militant group.
The US air strikes were sanctioned by President Donald Trump after it was endorsed by President Mohamed Farmajo.
“Earlier today, I authorized our special forces with the support of our international partners to conduct a strike against an al-Shabaab training camp near Sakow, Middle Juba region. This was a successful strike which destroyed a key al-Shabaab command and supply hub. This will ultimately disrupt the enemy’s ability to conduct new attacks within Somalia,” Farmajo is quoted.
The US government had earlier placed a bounty on the heads of Diriye and Karate in order to bring them to justice.
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