KAMPALA, Uganda – A spokesman for Somalia’s government says local officials are trying to verify whether the leader of al-Shabab was killed or wounded in a U.S. airstrike.
Abdiwali Ridwaan said Wednesday that the government is “in the process” of verifying who was hit in the attack Monday night.
He said they are certain the strikes hit “a gathering” of al-Shabab leaders.
Ridwaan praised U.S. support in the war on the al-Qaida-linked militant group whose leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, claimed responsibility for a deadly attack a year ago on an upscale mall in Kenya.
The U.S. confirmed Tuesday that the strikes, conducted by special operations forces using manned and unmanned aircraft, targeted Godane.
Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. launched the operation based on “actionable” intelligence.
