Eleven terrorist operatives in remote northern Somalia including a senior Islamic State group have been killed by the US special operations forces said the Biden administration.

An operation was carried out to target Bilal al-Sudani, a key financial facilitator for the global terrorist organization on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad.”

President Biden approved the operation

Last week, President Joe Biden was briefed about the proposed mission, which came together after months of planning. Ahead of the briefing session, Biden gave final approval to carry out the operation this week following the recommendation of Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Mark Milley, said two senior Biden administration officials on operation on the condition of anonymity.

The Defence Secretary said that Al-Sudani, who has been on the radar of U.S. intelligence officials for years. He has played a key role in helping to fund IS operations in Africa as well as the ISIS-K terrorist branch operating in Afghanistan.

Last year, the US Treasury Department alleged that al-Sudani has worked jointly with another IS operative, Abdella Hussein Abadigga. He had recruited young men in South Africa and sent them to a weapons training camp. Further, it briefed that Abadigga is the one who controlled two mosques in South Africa and used his position to extort money from members of the mosques. Al-Sudani considered Abadigga a trusted supporter who could help the IS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members.

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No civilian killed or injured: Biden Administration

According to Biden’s administration, in 2012, Al-Sudani had been originally designated to the Treasury Department for his role with al-Shabab, another terrorist organization operating in Somalia. He helped foreign fighters travel to an al-Shabab training camp and facilitated financing for violent extremists in Somalia.

During the operation, no civilian was reported injured or killed, said the Pentagon official. However, one American involved in the operation was bitten by a military dog, but was not seriously injured, the team added.

U.S. officials provided scant details about how the operation was carried out or the circumstances surrounding al-Sudani’s killing. U.S. forces had intended to capture al-Sudani but that did not prove to be “feasible” as the operation was carried out, the official said.