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MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Somali intelligence official says a senior commander with the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in southwestern Somalia.
The official told The Associated Press Thursday that the attack Wednesday night targeted a vehicle in which the al-Shabab commander, Ismael Jabhad, and three other fighters were traveling near the rebel-held town of Bardhere. The official insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
An al-Shabab official named Abu Mohammed confirmed the attack but gave no details.
The U.S. has carried out many airstrikes in Somalia targeting leaders of al-Shabab, which has ties with al-Qaida.
Al-Shabab is responsible for carrying out a series of deadly attacks on civilians, government troops and African Union forces across Somalia and in Kenya.