An April 2 airstrike by US forces in Somalia killed a "senior leader" of the Al-Shabaab militant group, the US Defense Department said Tuesday.
The strike left three Shabaab militants dead, including Yusuf Jiis, a "foundational" leader of the jihadist organization, which has carried out deadly attacks against Somali government and public targets for years, the US Africa Command said in a statement.
Africa Command Commander General Stephen Townsend said Jiis was a "key leader" in Al-Shabaab.
Africa Command said the strike took place near Bush Madina, 135 miles (217 kilometers) west of Mogadishu, and was carried out in coordination with the Somali government.