U.S. FORCES CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS AGAINST AL-SHABAAB


By bblouin
al-shabaab

Near Jilib, Somalia, an air strike by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) was able to kill a founding leader of a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda. The Islamic militant group known as al-Shabaab has been wreaking havoc throughout the eastern African country. Abdullahi Nadir was the target, and while al-Shabaab is yet to respond, the coordinated attack from U.S. Forces and Somalian troops is being celebrated as a win against global terrorism. Suggested read:The Hellfire Missile That Killed al-Zawahiri Uses Swords, Not Explosions

What Is al-Shabaab?

Formally known as Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (HSM), the group is a known terrorist cell operating in Somalia as well as other countries that call East Africa home. The terrorist group is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Somalians since its formation in 2006. Common targets are key government officials, businesses, and civilians. Jilib, Somalia, is where al-Shabaab is headquartered, as it continues to play an active role in the country’s civil war. Its troops conduct missions and various acts of violence to obtain and maintain the power to install a warped version of Islamic law in the area. Terrorism in Somalia is largely due to the group, which is known to have as many as 12,000 fighters. Al-Shabaab leader, Ahmad Umar, also known as Ahmed Diriye, is believed to be in poor health and stepping away from the role. This move is causing a bit of a power struggle within the organization, though it remains to be seen if some clarity is brought to the situation now that the potential future leader of al-Shabaab, Abdullahi Nadir, has been killed by an air strike.

Somalia News Sources Report the Death of Abdullahi Nadir

The U.S. military says it killed the al-Shabaab leader in a Somali air strike, delivering a serious blow to a terrorist organization already dealing with internal leadership issues. The Ministry of Information, Posts, and Telecommunication said that Nadir’s "death is a thorn removed from the Somali nation. The government is grateful to the Somali people and international friends whose cooperation facilitated the killing of this leader who was an enemy of the Somali nation." During the recent weeks of fighting, U.S. forces, Somalian security, and support from the African Union (AU) have seen success in fighting against the insurgents, with the successful air strike being touted as one of the latest victories. Sadly, multiple car bombs rattled the East African nation on the same weekend, with al-Shabaab taking responsibility for the heinous actions.

A Forever War in Somalia?

You don’t have to look far for an al-Shabaab attack in Somalia. This is a sad reoccurrence that continues to be a part of everyday life for Somalians. There are many complex factors at play mirroring similar complex issues found during the U.S. fighting in the Middle East; however, in that lies the problem. Some look at Somalia as the United States’ next “forever war,” as the complex issues of political infighting, civil wars, religious radicalization, and more threaten peace in the area. War weariness has reached many households in the U.S., and this became evident after the Biden administration sent 500 American troops on a deployment to help fight al-Shabaab in Somalia. The concerns now range from practical to political, but without a clear exit strategy, the moves in Somalia are being examined under the metaphorical microscope to avoid some of the issues the U.S. military has had over the last two decades. This also comes on the heels of increasing tensions between the U.S. and its frenemies China and Russia.

Preventing Future al-Shabaab Attacks

Regardless of which method anyone may think is most effective, the end goal should be peace for the good of Somalia and all of those defending the land. In the end, al-Shabaab continues to be a relatively minor problem for American interests and has not received a massive amount of attention. Though, current trends through the Biden administration seem to be turning the tide and successfully making some progress. Read next:Ayman Al-Zawahiri and American Veteran Lived in the Same Home


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