Westgate mastermind confirmed dead in Somalia airstrike

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 19, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Pentagon has confirmed the death of Ahmed Ahmed Isak (Adan Garaar) who allegedly engineered a deadly attack on upscale Kenya mall, Garowe Online reports.

Drone strikes that pummeled Al Shabaab bases near Gedo region town of Bardhere of southwestern Somalia on March 12 are said in statement to have left Garaar dead.

Garaar-senior Al Shabaab intelligence official and mastermind of one of the deadliest high profile attacks on Kenya soil-was killed in Drone missiles while travelling in a car along with another man in Aqbul area, 40km from Bardhere.

The death of the targeted official might deal blow to the Somali militant group- Al Qaeda franchise that claimed credit for Westgate mall attack in late 2013.

US stepping up Somalia Drone attacks

Missile strikes by US unmanned aircraft have been proliferating since last year, with high ranking Al Shabaab officials succumbed in Drone operations in southern and central Somalia.

On September 1, 2014 US killed Al Shabaab Chief Ahmed Abdi Godane in strikes made against Hawai bases in Lower Shabelle region.

On December 29, 2014 Drone attacks targeted senior official within the group, Abdinasir Hassan Barakow Tahlil in Middle Juba region of southern Somalia.

On January 31, 2015 Al Shabaab lost internal operations and intelligence head Yusuf Dheeg in another Drone missile in Bay regional district of Diinsoor.

UN-backed weak central government in Mogadishu for the first time announced that it would use unmanned aircraft to battle Islamist insurgents in Early March.

Somali government forces aided by African Union peacekeepers dislodged Al Shabaab militants from key bastions including their economic-powerhouse, Barawe coastal town over the last two years. 

GAROWE ONLINE