US: Airstrikes Kill Somali Militant, IS Leader in Libya

The U.S. military said Monday that recent airstrikes have killed two militant leaders in Africa.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said a December 2 airstrike in Somalia killed Abdiraham Sandhere, a senior leader of militant group al-Shabab, and two of his associates.

Davis said the death of Sandhere, also known as "Ukash," deals a significant blow to al-Shabab.

The Pentagon also said the U.S. has confirmed that an airstrike last month killed Abul Nabil, the head of the Islamic State militant group in Libya.

Spokesman Davis said Nabil was targeted in a November 13 attack carried out by F-15 aircraft in the city of Derna.

He did not say what type of aircraft was used in the Somalia airstrike but the U.S. has often used drones to attack leaders of al-Shabab.

The group's longtime emir, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed by a U.S. drone strike in September 2014.