The leader of al-Shabab, a militant group affiliated with al-Qaeda that has terrorized parts of Africa for the past decade, is dead.
Ahmed Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, was killed by an American airstrike in Somalia last weekend, the Pentagon announced. He was al-Shabab's spiritual leader under whose direction the Somali militants forged an alliance with al-Qaeda.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed the news in a statement sent Friday afternoon, calling Godane's death "a major symbolic and operational loss to the largest al-Qaida affiliate in Africa." Earnest said Godane's removal "reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals."
#Breaking: White House @PressSec confirms death of Ahmed Godane, leader of al-Shabaab, in American airstrike pic.twitter.com/hpodlvRptW— Brian Rie$ (@moneyries) September 5, 2014
The U.S. had pursued Godane for the better part of the last two years, a hunt that escalated after he claimed credit for a brutal attack on the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, where at least 67 people were killed.
In 2012 the U.S. offered a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to his arrest.
Godane has no heir apparent.
Pentagon confirms it killed al-Shabab leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, in airstrike. http://t.co/l80SFlEMBO pic.twitter.com/IZ0bNLIXLB— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) September 5, 2014
Speaking before his death was confirmed, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said it would be a "significant blow" to al-Shabab's organization and abilities.
But Godane's death could also lead the group to ditch its association with al-Qaida and align itself with the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, analysts said.
Godane was in one of two vehicles hit by U.S. military strikes Monday night, said Abu Mohammed, an al-Shabab commander and spokesman. He said six militants were killed, but would not say if Godane was among them. The two vehicles were heading toward the Somali coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabab's main base, Mohammed told The Associated Press.
The U.S. strikes hit Godane after he left a meeting of the group's top leaders, a senior Somali intelligence official told the AP. Intelligence indicated Godane "might have been killed along with other militants," said the Somali official, who spoke on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the press.
BREAKING: Reports say Al-Shabaab leader #GODANE in one of the vehicles hit by #US Drone strikes in #Somalia pic.twitter.com/PZBAJDkGOA— ayub abdikadir (@AyubAbdikadir) September 2, 2014
Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said the U.S. launched the operation based on "actionable" intelligence, and the strikes "hit what we were aiming at."
A witness in Somalia described ground-shaking explosions. Somali government and African Union forces heading to a town in the district heard what sounded like an "earthquake," said the governor of Somalia's Lower Shabelle region, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nor.
The attack took place 105 miles (170 kilometers) south of Mogadishu in a forested area where al-Shabab trains its fighters, he said.