Ahmed Godane.
The Pentagon confirmed the death of Ahmed Godane – co founder of al-Shabaab today:
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (HSM) (Arabic: حركة الشباب المجاهدين; Ḥarakat ash-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn ,Somali: Xarakada Mujaahidiinta Alshabaab, “Mujahideen Youth Movement” or “Movement of Striving Youth”), more commonly known as al-Shabaab (Arabic: الشباب), meaning “The Youth”, or “The Youngsters“, is a jihadist terrorist group based in Somalia.
In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant organization al-Qaeda…
As of 2013, the group has retreated from the major cities, but imposes strict forms of Sharia law in some rural regions.
Al-Shabaab’s troop strength as of 2013 was estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 militants.
The Pentagon release read as follows:
“We have confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the co-founder of al-Shabaab, has been killed. The U.S. military undertook operations against Godane on Sept. 1, which led to his death. Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al-Shabaab.
The United States works in coordination with its friends, allies and partners to counter the regional and global threats posed by violent extremist organizations.”
Source: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16924
Note: On September 2, 2014, Al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling in one of two vehicles hit by a U.S. AGM-114 Hellfire missile strike the previous day. It was not immediately confirmed if Godane himself was among the six militants killed. The vehicles were heading toward the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabaab’s main base.
Source: Al-Shabaab in Somalia confirms leader was targeted in US drone strikehttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/02/al-shabaab-confirms-leader-targeted-us-drone-strike-somalia