Pentagon Confirms Death Of Top Terrorist Leader In Somalia

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that the leader of the militant Islamist al-Shabab group was killed in a U.S. airstrike over the weekend in Somalia.

Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said at a press conference Friday that the recent airstrike had in fact successfully killed Ahmed Godane, the spiritual leader of al-Shabab who is credited with affiliating the extremist group with the al Qaeda terror organization.

"We have confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the co-founder of al-Shabaab, has been killed," Kirby said in a statement, adding that the leader's death was a "major symbolic and operational loss" for the extremist organization.

The group has been responsible for numerous attacks and suicide bombings that have taken the lives of innocent people, including the well-known Westgate Mall attack in Kenya back in 2013 that included a hostage situation and resulted in the deaths of nearly 40 people.

Gen. Carter F. Ham, formerly the head of the U.S. military's Africa Command, told the New York Times that while Godane's death is certainly a positive development against the war on terror, it does not necessarily mark the end to al-Shabab.

"The effect will be positive, but not decisive," Gen. Ham said. "[Godane] has proven over the years to be an elusive figure, but one who has galvanized some elements within Al Shabab."

"His death will remove an effective terrorist leader from Al Shabab's ranks, but it will not cause Al Shabab to suddenly crumble or, probably, to significantly alter course."

The U.S. had announced earlier this week that there was a high probability Godane had been killed in an airstrike that struck a convoy as it left a meeting in the coastal town of Barawe.