US airstrike kills high-ranking Al-Shabaab official in Galmudug

A high-ranking Al-Shabaab official and multiple fighters were reportedly killed in a US airstrike in a village located between the towns of El Garas and El-lahelay in the Mudug region, according to a Galmudug regional state official on Wednesday.

Ali Bashi, the deputy minister of security for the Galmudug regional administration, confirmed that the attack killed Khalif Gaambe, a senior Al-Shabaab leader who was in charge of Al-Shabaab operations in Galmudug, as well as other members of the group. The strike also destroyed two vehicles that the fighters were travelling in.

Ali Bashi, the deputy minister of security for the Galmudug regional administration, confirmed that the airstrike killed Khalif Gaambe, a senior Al-Shabaab leader responsible for overseeing Al-Shabaab operations in Galmudug, along with several other members of the group.

Additionally, the strike destroyed two vehicles that the militants were using for transportation.

According to Bashi, Gaambe was targeted during his involvement in military mobilization efforts in the area.

There is no comment from Al-Shabaab regarding the operation that killed Gaambe.

The killing of Gambe presents the latest blow to Al-Shabaab which has been facing intense military offensives from government forces in recent months in Galmudug and Hirshabelle regional states.