The Pentagon has confirmed that a victim of a U.S. airstrike on Saakow, Somalia, was the chief of Islamic militant group al-Shabab’s intelligence and security wing.

A U.S. Department of Defense statement Wednesday confirmed that a Hellfire missile strike on a vehicle killed al-Shabab security chief Tahlil Abdishakur on Monday.

Pentagon spokesman James Brindle said the death of Tahlil, who was responsible for al-Shabab’s external operations, will have a significant impact on al-Shabab’s ability to conduct attacks against the Somali government, the Somali people, and U.S. allies and interests.

The Pentagon first announced the airstrike Tuesday, saying the target was a senior al-Shabab leader in Somalia. It was not announced until Wednesday that the strike had hit its target. A Pentagon spokesman said it is believed that there are no civilian casualties.

In September, another U.S. airstrike in Somalia killed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.

The al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab is trying to overthrow the Somali government and turn the country into a conservative Islamic state.

Somali and African Union troops have had success in beating back the militants over the past year.
…