For the first time since the incident was reported, the US military have issued a statement confirming that Al-Shabaab’s commander who planned the raid on Manda Airfield is dead.
On Saturday, the Federal Government of Somalia announced his death. However, a period of uncertainty followed when the US failed to issue a statement confirming his killing.
Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud, a senior leader of Al-Shabaab, is the main suspect of the raid that targeted US and Kenyan troops at the airfield.
“In late February, an airstrike organized by the US in conjunction FSG forces killed Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud,” said a statement from the US Africa Command.
The US State Department had placed a bounty of $5 million on the head of the Al-Shabaab leader after naming him as the primary suspect in organizing the devastating raid.