US kills al Qaeda militant in Somalia

One of east Africa’s most wanted al Qaeda militants, Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, is thought to have been killed by US special forces in Somalia.

The 28-year-old was suspected of building the truck bomb that killed 15 people at a Kenyan hotel in 2002.

He was also thought to have been involved in the attempted missile attack on an Israeli airliner leaving Mombassa airport.

According to senior Somali government sources, Saleh Nabhan died along with several other foreign insurgents when his car was fired on from a helicopter.

Western security agents say Somalia has become a safe haven for militants including foreign jihadists.

While the US has acknowledged Saleh Nabhan’s death, the Pentagon has declined to comment on any alleged operation in Somalia.

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tags: Al-Qaeda, Somalia, Terrorism