The Biden administration announced on Friday that US forces conducted a covert operation in Somalia, killing a senior militant and 10 others. According to the administration, the attack was carried out on Wednesday, in which Bilal al-Sudani, a key member of the global terrorist organization, lost his life.
“This action makes the United States and its allies safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
President Joe Biden was briefed last week about the proposed mission, which came together after months of planning. According to two senior Biden administration officials, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity about the operation, they gave final approval to carry out the operation this week following a recommendation from Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley. Gave. ,
Austin said al-Sudani, who has been on the radar of US intelligence officials for years, played a key role in helping finance IS’s operations in Africa as well as the ISIS-K terrorist branch operating in Afghanistan. The US Treasury Department alleged last year that al-Sudani worked closely with another IS operative, Abdellah Hussein Abadigga, who recruited youths in South Africa and sent them to weapons training camps.
Abadigga, who controlled two mosques in South Africa, used his position to extort money from members of the mosques. According to the Treasury, al-Sudani considered Abadigga a reliable supporter who could help IS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members. Al-Sudani was originally designated by the Treasury Department in 2012 for his role in dealing with al-Shabaab, another terrorist organization operating in Somalia. According to a senior administration official, he helped foreign fighters travel to al-Shabaab training camps and facilitated funding for violent extremists in Somalia.
Pentagon officials said no civilians were injured or killed in the operation. An American involved in the operation was bitten by a military dog but was not seriously injured, according to an administration official. American officials provided scant details about how the operation was carried out or the circumstances surrounding al-Sudani’s killing. One official said that the US military intended to capture al-Sudani but that this proved “not possible” as the operation was carried out.
The operation comes days after Africa Command said it had launched a mass self-defense attack near Galkad, northeast of the capital Mogadishu. In that incident, Somalia National Army forces engaged in heavy fighting following an extended and intense attack by over 100 al-Shabaab fighters. The US estimates that about 30 al-Shabaab fighters were killed in that operation.
The offensive by the Somalian army against al-Shabaab has been described as the most significant in more than a decade. Al-Shabaab has a much greater influence in Somalia than IS.
(with inputs from AP)
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