US operation in Somalia: IS leader and ten supporters killed

Status: 01/27/2023 09:12 a.m

US special forces have killed senior IS leader al-Sudani and 10 of his followers in northern Somalia. Al-Sudani is said to have played a key role in funding IS activities in Africa.

US special forces have killed a leader of the terrorist militia “Islamic State” in northern Somalia. In addition to Bilal al-Sudani, ten other followers of the extremist group were killed in the operation on Wednesday, the US government said.

Civilians were not harmed in the action in a remote mountainous region traversed by caves. No US soldier was killed in the operation. Only one soldier was injured after being bitten by a US military service dog.

US President Joe Biden was briefed last week on details of the intended mission. On the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chief of Staff Mark Milley, Biden then approved the mission this week.

Apparently fierce resistance from IS fighters

The United States gave little information about the details of the special operation. According to government officials, al-Sudani was killed in an exchange of fire. The aim of the access, which had been prepared for months, was actually his arrest. However, the “hostile reaction” by the IS fighters ultimately led to their killing.

US forces have long operated in Somalia in coordination with and on behalf of the government in Mogadishu. The US Air Force regularly flies air strikes in support of state forces fighting Somalia’s Al-Shabab terrorist militia. The US Treasury Department originally targeted al-Sudani in 2012 for his activities with al-Shabaab.

Austin said al-Sudani played a key role in funding ISIS activities in Africa and an ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan. Al-Sudani promoted the “growing presence” of IS in Africa.

US military kills senior ISIS leader in Somalia

Sebastian Hesse, ARD Washington, 27.1.2023 8:06 a.m

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