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Al-Shabaab intelligence chief killed in U.S. airstrike in Somalia

30 December 2014 17:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed Tuesday the killing of Al-Shabaab intelligence chief Tahlil aka Abdishakur in the U.S. airstrike, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to a NISA press statement, Abdishakur was killed by U. S. drone attack on Monday night at around 8:00 p.m. near Saakow town in the middle Juba region of Somalia.

"Cooperation between Somali National Intelligence Agency and Americans has eliminated Al-Shabaab secret service Al Amniyat chief," the statement said.

NISA said two other people, who were the guards of Abdishakur, were also killed in the drone attack.

U.S. Defense department Pentagon on Tuesday morning confirmed the drone attack, saying it has targeted senior Al-Shabaab figure.

NISA also dismissed in the statement the handover of wanted Al- Shabaab commander Zakariye Hersi to Kenya, saying he is on the hands of NISA officials.