U.S. officials have reported that a military airstrike was carried out in late May in Somalia, aimed at the top leader of the Islamic State. However, it is uncertain if the leader was killed in the airstrike.
According to the U.S., Abdulqadir Mumin leads the African branch of the terrorist group formerly known as ISIS, now called the Islamic State in Somalia.
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On May 31, U.S. Africa Command carried out an airstrike in a remote area of northeastern Somalia, below the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in the death of three militants associated with the Islamic State, according to a statement. The statement, however, did not offer any further details about the specific target of the airstrike.
According to three U.S. officials who spoke with ABC News, the primary objective of the strike was to take out the leader of the Islamic State in Somalia, who has been identified by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) as Mumin. At this time, it is uncertain whether Mumin was successfully targeted and killed by the airstrike.
One senior Islamic State leader was the intended target of the strike, according to a fourth U.S. official. However, the official declined to reveal the individual’s identity.
According to NBC News, Mumin was the primary focus of the airstrike that took place on May 31. Additionally, it was reported that he had risen to the position of global leader within the Islamic State.
According to the NCTC, Mumin is the primary figure behind the formation and leadership of the Islamic State in Somalia, which predominantly operates in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland located in northeastern Somalia.
With roughly 10,000 members, Al-Shabaab is the primary Islamic militant group operating in the southern region of Somalia. As a result, it is often the focus of U.S. airstrikes in support of the Somali government.
