A senior leader of the Al-Shabaab died in a US air strike in Somalia last week which also killed two other Anti peaces Al shabaab, the Pentagon.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said removal of Abdirahman Sandhere "is a significant blow to Al-Shabaab and reflects the painstaking work by our intelligence, military, and law enforcement professionals."

 

Sandhere, "also known as 'Ukash,' a senior leader of the Al Qaeda-affiliated group Al-Shabaab, is dead as a result of a US military air strike in Somalia undertaken on December 2" he said.

 

The Al-Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22,000 African Union troops.

 

The group has lost much ground in recent years but remain a threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where they have carried out a series of attacks.

 

The movement is also facing growing divisions with some members shifting allegiance from Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State group.

 

The United States has led drone strikes in Somalia against Al-Shabaab since 2011.