location: Haawaay
notes: A US drone conducted an airstrike against an al Shabaab fighters convoy near Haawaay Bridge (14km SW of Sablaale) in the evening of 01/09. Reports indicate that the drone fired at least six missiles on the target. The pentagon press secretary stated that they have conducted counter terrorism operation and they are still assessing the results. Somali intelligence stated the strike was targeting at al Shabaabs senior officials convoy (Abu-Zubayr or Ahmed Abdi Godane). Later sources declare six dead in the attack, and al Shabaabs Twitter account declared that the bombings did in fact target and kill Godane, its leader. The Pentagon again confirmed this. Swearing revenge, al Shabaab appointed Sheikh Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah to be their new leader.
target_text: location: Haawaay, fatalities: 6