{"id":5268,"date":"2019-04-15T18:17:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T18:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/15\/us-killed-number-two-leader-of-isis-somalia-officials-say\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T19:59:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T19:59:41","slug":"us-killed-number-two-leader-of-isis-somalia-officials-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/04\/15\/us-killed-number-two-leader-of-isis-somalia-officials-say\/","title":{"rendered":"US killed No. 2 leader of ISIS-Somalia, officials say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An American airstrike in northeastern Somalia has killed the deputy leader of the Islamic State group<\/a> in the country, U.S. officials said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdulhakim Dhuqub, who was responsible for the extremist group\u2019s daily operations, attack planning and resource procurement, was killed in the vicinity of Xiriiro, in the Bari region, on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. military has been supporting the government of Somalia<\/a> as it increases the competency of its security forces and pushes back against extremist groups in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Africa Command said that precision airstrikes support Somali security forces and allow time and space for governance to grow in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe continue to work with our Somali partners to keep pressure on the al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia terror networks,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. \u201cWhen it supports the strategy, we use precision airstrikes to target those who plan and carry out the violent extremist activities that put Somalis at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airstrikes help to create \u201corganizational confusion within the terrorist networks in Somalia,” according to Air Force Col. Chris Karns, an AFRICOM spokesman.<\/p>\n\n\n\t