WASHINGTON – In a coordinated operation with the Somali government, U.S. Africa Command executed a precision airstrike on December 24, about 10 kilometers southwest of Kunyo Barrow, resulting in the deaths of Mohamed Mire, a high-ranking al-Shabaab official known as Abu Abdirahman, and another militant, according to AFRICOM.
Mire, who had been a central figure in al-Shabaab’s governance for 15 years, held the position of interior minister and was deeply involved in the group’s strategic planning.
U.S. Africa Command reported no civilian casualties in the initial assessment of the strike.
“Countering the evolving threats of terrorism is a cornerstone of our National Security Strategy,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, the head of AFRICOM. He highlighted the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, which underscores al-Shabaab’s status as a substantial threat, and reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with allies in the region to enhance security, stability, and prosperity.
Mire had been listed as a specially designated global terrorist by the U.S. Department of State in October 2022, under Executive Order 13224.
While operational details are being kept under wraps for security reasons, officials from AFRICOM have indicated they will keep a close watch on the aftermath of the strike and share further developments as they arise.
