(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) US forces carried out a raid this week that killed a senior ISIS
commander in Somalia and ten of his associates, officials said on
Thursday, trend reports citing al arabiya .
The operation was ordered by US President Joe Biden and carried
out on Wednesday. Bilal al-Sudani was the senior ISIS figure
targeted and killed, according to a statement from Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin.
“Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of
ISIS in Africa and for funding the group's operations worldwide,
including in Afghanistan,” Austin said.“This action leaves the
United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it
reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the
threat of terrorism at home and abroad.”
No civilians were harmed during the operation, senior US
administration officials said.
An official told reports that US special operations forces
raided a cave complex in the mountains of northern Somalia, hoping
to capture al-Sudani initially.
Officials said that Biden was briefed about the operation last
week and approved it this week.
Last year, the Biden administration redeployed hundreds of US
troops to Somalia, reversing a decision by former President Donald
Trump to withdraw the forces that were on a counterterrorism
mission.
“Al-Shabab has taken advantage of Somali instability and
fractious politics to become al-Qaeda's largest and wealthiest
global affiliate. It exerts influence essentially throughout the
country of Somalia,” a US official said at the time.
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