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The United States has confirmed the death of Mohamed Mire, also known as Abu Abdirahman, a senior Al-Shabaab leader involved in financing and planning major terrorist attacks, including the Westgate Mall attack in 2013 and the Dusit D2 attack in 2019. Mire was killed in a U.S. airstrike on December 24, 2024, near Quyno Barrow, approximately 260 kilometers from Mogadishu, Somalia.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced Mire’s death, revealing he was among two Al-Shabaab militants killed in the strike. Mire had played a crucial role in the militant group for over 15 years, serving as the group’s regional finance head and holding multiple leadership positions, including the role of interior minister. AFRICOM reported no civilian casualties in the airstrike, maintaining its commitment to minimizing harm while targeting terrorist leaders.
Mire was a key figure in Al-Shabaab’s operations, directly overseeing financial planning and logistical support for attacks. His involvement in the Westgate Mall attack on September 21, 2013, led to the deaths of 62 civilians and five Kenyan Defense Forces officers after four gunmen stormed the upscale Nairobi shopping center. The attack ended after a four-day siege with all attackers being neutralized by Kenyan security forces.
Mire also played a central role in the planning and execution of the Dusit D2 hotel attack in Nairobi on January 15, 2019, where five militants killed 22 civilians before being subdued by security forces. Both incidents were orchestrated with heavy financial and strategic input from Mire, emphasizing his significant influence within Al-Shabaab’s leadership structure.
The U.S. government had designated Mire a global terrorist in October 2022 due to his senior leadership role in Al-Shabaab, citing his direct involvement in the group’s strategic decision-making and internal operations. He was listed alongside other senior figures like Yasir Jiis, the commander of Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, and Mustaf Abdi Aden, who was identified as the mastermind behind the Dusit D2 attack.
In July 2024, Somalia’s anti-money laundering committee also sanctioned Mire along with seven other high-ranking Al-Shabaab commanders, further targeting his financial networks and influence within the group.
Al-Shabaab has remained a significant threat in the region, controlling vast territories in southern Somalia and parts of central regions despite continuous efforts by Somali and international forces to weaken the group. The U.S., through AFRICOM, has maintained a strategy of targeted airstrikes and support for Somali forces to degrade the group’s capabilities and leadership hierarchy.
AFRICOM Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to working with regional partners in combating terrorism. He stated, “Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to degrade Al-Shabaab.”
The airstrike against Mire follows similar operations targeting other key Al-Shabaab figures. In 2023, a U.S. airstrike eliminated Maalim Ayman, a senior Al-Shabaab leader linked to the January 2020 attack on the U.S. military base in Manda Bay, Lamu, which resulted in the deaths of three U.S. nationals, including a service member.
The elimination of Mohamed Mire is seen as a strategic victory for counterterrorism efforts in East Africa, but Al-Shabaab’s continued presence and influence in Somalia pose ongoing challenges for both the Somali government and its international partners. The U.S. has reiterated its commitment to supporting Somali forces and local communities in the fight against extremist threats in the region.