US and Somali Forces Successfully Eliminate Key Al-Shabaab Commander Linked to Multiple Attacks
Senior Al-Shabaab leader, Maalim Ayman, responsible for numerous attacks in Somalia and Kenya, was successfully eliminated in a joint military operation conducted by Somali and US forces on December 17, as announced by Somali Minister for Information Daud Aweis
Maalim Ayman, a top leader of the Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia and Kenya, was assassinated on December 17 during a joint military operation involving Somali and US forces, announced Somali Minister for Information Daud Aweis on Friday.
"Ayman was responsible for orchestrating numerous deadly terrorist attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries," Aweis stated in a social media announcement.
Ayman is believed to be responsible for a terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at Kenya's Manda Bay Airfield on January 5, 2020, which resulted in the deaths of three Americans - one soldier and two civilian contractors. Additionally, two US service members and one civilian contractor were injured in the attack, as reported by the US Department of State.
In January of this year, the US government offered a reward of up to $10 million for any information that would lead to the arrest or conviction of Maalim Ayman in any country. Al-Shabaab was recognized as a terrorist group by the US in 2008 and by a UN Security Council committee in 2010.
CNN has reached out to the US State Department for comment.
