NAIROBI, Kenya — In an alliance with Somalia’s authorities, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) declared that it executed a precision airstrike on December 24. This strike claimed the life of Mohamed Mire, also recognized as Abu Abdirahman, a prominent Al-Shabaab figure, along with another insurgent, per AFRICOM’s statement on Monday.
The operation unfolded about 10 kilometers southwest of Kunyo Barrow, located in Lower Shabelle, close to Mogadishu, the bustling capital.
For a whopping 15 years, Mire had been a central figure within al-Shabaab, donning the hat of their interior minister, heavily swaying strategic deliberations.
According to AFRICOM’s preliminary evaluation, no non-combatants fell victim to this action. Notably, Amnesty International has scrutinized nine American air operations in Somalia since 2019, finding that 21 non-combatants met their end while 11 sustained injuries.
Back in October 2022, the US State Department tagged Mire as a specially designated global terrorist under Executive Order 13224.
Due to security protocols, many operational specifics remain under wraps. Nonetheless, AFRICOM pledged to roll out additional tidbits as the air clears.
AXADLETM
