The US military has stepped up its attacks on al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa after the jihadist outfit has regained ground over the past two years. AFRICOM has targeted Shabaab 10 times since the beginning of June.
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced three more strikes on Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia and East Africa, over the past two days. All three took place in Shabaab-held territory.
In a newly released video, Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mahmoud Rage addresses graduates of a training camp for foreign fighters. “Many” of the graduates are from Kenya and, Rage says, they should form an “army that will conquer Kenya so that we may return to our families and relatives in a state of honor and glory.”
The Pentagon’s desire to actively target Shabaab reflects the growing concern that al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa is gaining strength despite the presence of both AMISOM and US forces.
Somali officials have reportedly captured Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, who has been identified by the State Department as Shabaab’s “chief of intelligence.” The UN has said that another Shabaab official held that role.
Shabaab fighters dressed in military uniforms attacked a mosque inside the presidential palace. Two government officials are reported to be among those killed.
The US Navy SEALs raid that targeted a Shabaab leader known as Ikrima was justified under the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force. President Obama has called for the repeal of the AUMF, and support to do so is gaining in Congress.
A Sudanese man led the team, which also included a Kenyan and a Somali.
Shabaab claimed that its fighters stopped a Western-led nighttime raid from the sea in the costal town of Barawe. The US special operations forces killed a top al Qaeda and Shabaab leader in Barawe four years ago.
A document found after Somali troops killed Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, al Qaeda’s former leader in East Africa and a senior Shabaab commander, details a plot to conduct multiple Mumbai-like attacks that target civilians in London.
A report published by a UN Monitoring Group in July warned that Al Hijra, Shabaab’s affiliate in Kenya, was planning more complicated attacks utilizing fighters who had returned from Somalia. The report also revealed that the US has been funding the “Al-Shabaab/East Africa Al-Qaida Disruption Initiative,” which has targeted Al Hijra’s leaders.
Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr threatened further attacks in Kenya if its military is not withdrawn from southern Somalia. He also noted that the assault on the Westgate Mall was “just 10 days after the anniversary date of the blessed 911 operations.”
President Kenyatta said that five Shabaab fighters were killed and 11 more were captured. Sixty-two civilians and six Kenyan troops were killed during the attack on the Westgate Mall.
Shabaab’s propaganda unit on Twitter also said that there are many bodies inside the Westgate Mall, it still has hostages, and it is striving to implement a global Islamic Caliphate.
“With the rescue attempt, France has voluntarily signed Allex’s death warrant,” the terror group said in an official statement. Shabaab later announced he was executed. The French intelligence agent has been held by Shabaab since July 2009.
Shabaab displayed the body and equipment of a French commando who was wounded and captured late last week following a failed hostage rescue in Somalia, and later died. The terror group also said the “fate” of hostage Denis Allex will be announced soon.
French commandos from the General Directorate for External Security attempted to rescue Denis Allex, one of their operatives captured in 2009. The French said they believe Allex was killed in the raid; Shabaab denied the claim.
Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Somalia has broken its nearly year-long silence on the American jihadist who has claimed that deep divisions exist between foreign fighters and local jihadists.
A security guard reportedly killed the two suicide bombers before they could enter a restaurant in the capital.
While Shabaab has been weakened by the Kenyan and African Union military operations over the past year, the group has experience in conducting a protracted insurgency.
Fifteen people, including several journalists, are reported to have been killed in an attack at a restaurant across from the national theatre, where a similar attack took place months ago.
Seven people were killed after three suicide bombers attempted to enter a press conference at a hotel in a high-security area of Mogadishu.
Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot and killed as he was driving in Mombasa. The US added Rogo to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists on July 5 for his direct support for Shabaab.
Two of the men who were executed had allegedly “planted tracking devices” that led to the strike that killed al Qaeda leader Bilal al Berjawi and three other “Muhajireen.”
The Muslim Youth Center, Shabaab’s affiliate in Kenya, has vowed to wage jihad in Kenya.
Shabaab emir Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr’s reward of $7 million puts him at number six on the Rewards for Justice list of wanted terrorists.
The al Qaeda affiliate has executed 10 suicide attacks in Somalia already this year.
Two top sports official were among 10 people killed. Somalia’s defense minister claimed the attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber, but Shabaab denied the claim.
Shabaab said that a purported interview with Sheikh Abu Mansur Robow that was published two days ago by Somalia Report is “entirely fictitious.”
“HSM is surprised by the video of Abu Mansoor #AlAmriki that surfaced on the internet,” Shabaab said on its Twitter page.