{"id":31616,"date":"2020-04-07T12:30:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T12:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/07\/high-ranking-al-shabab-leader-killed-in-us-strike\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:42:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:42:45","slug":"high-ranking-al-shabab-leader-killed-in-us-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/04\/07\/high-ranking-al-shabab-leader-killed-in-us-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018High-ranking\u2019 al-Shabab leader killed in U.S. strike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Africa Command<\/a> said an April 2 airstrike in Somalia killed a high-ranking and foundational member of the al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist group known as al-Shabab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airstrike located in Bush Madina, Somalia, about 135 miles west of Mogadishu<\/a> killed a total of three jihadis, including Yusuf Jiis \u2014 a Shabab leader who had held several positions and helped facilitate the jihadi group\u2019s violent attacks throughout East Africa, AFRICOM said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis individual was a key leader in the al-Shabaab organization,” Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the AFRICOM commander said in a news release. \u201cHe was violent, ruthless, and responsible for the loss of many innocent lives. His removal makes Somalia and neighboring countries safer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFRICOM previously told Military Times it has slightly increased the pace of strikes against the Shabab militants as it sees the group as a growing threat to U.S. interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we might like to pause our operations in Somalia because of the Coronavirus, the leaders of al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and ISIS have announced that they see this crisis as an opportunity to further their terrorist agenda so we will continue to stand with and support our African partners,” Townsend said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t