AL-SHABAB SAYS ONE OF ITS COMMANDERS KILLED IN DRONE STRIKE. (PHOTO).

 Al-Shabab says one of its commanders killed in drone strike

Militant group al-Shabab said one of its top commanders, Mohamed Mire, was killed in a drone strike near Kunyo Barrow in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle Region, VOA reported.

Al-Shabab did not say when the strike took place but blamed the United States for the killing.

The United States military command in Africa, AFRICOM, late on Thursday confirmed conducting a Dec. 24 airstrike against al-Shabab, killing two militants some 10 kilometers southwest of Kunyo Barrow. The AFRICOM statement did not name the targeted militants but said no civilians were harmed.

“The command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released to ensure operational security,” said AFRICOM, which confirmed the strike was carried out in coordination with the Somali government.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information issued a statement calling the operation “well-planned” and conducted in coordination with international partners with whom it and long been hunting Mire.

Earlier, Lower Shabelle Region Governor Mohamed Ibrahim Barre told VOA’s Horn of Africa Service that the operation occurred two days ago.

Barre said Mire was traveling from the town of Jilib to Kunyo Barrow when he was targeted outside of the town.

Mire was head of al-Shabab’s regions department, the militant group’s equivalent of an interior ministry. He also held multiple other positions within the group.

In July, Somalia’s anti-money laundering committee issued a sanctions list targeting Mire and seven other al-Shabab commanders.

U.S. officials designated Mire a global terrorist in October 2022, describing him as a senior al-Shabab leader responsible for the group’s strategic decision-making and head of the group’s interior wing, overseeing many of the group’s activities in Somalia.

“Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising and equipping partner forces to degrade al-Shabaab,” AFRICOM said.