Al-Shabab leader, Godane, killed by US airstrike

The united states has confirmed the killing of leader of the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane (pictured, middle).

The US launched airstrikes on a convoy suspected to be that of the late Godane on Monday, and the pentagon has now confirmed his death.

“Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al-Shabab,” Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm John Kirby, said in a statement.

In 2012, the United States put a bounty of $7m on him, showing how wanted he was by the US.

Kirby said the military airstrike on Monday, September 1 “led to his death”.

After the death of Aden Hashi Ayro in 2008, Godane became the leader of the group, pledging allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2009.

African Union (AU), supported by the US, drove al-Shabab out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other towns since 2011.