U.S. drone reportedly kills Somali militant, mastermind of attacks on Americans and Kenyans

A U.S. drone strike has killed a senior Somali militant accused of masterminding a 2020 attack on a military base in Kenya that killed three Americans. 

Moalim Ayman was the terrorist who was killed, a top Somali official told The Washington Post on Friday.

“We can confirm 100 percent that it was him,” Information Minister Daud Aweis said, according to the outlet. “It took a few days to make the final confirmation, we made it yesterday.”

According to Aweis, Ayman was killed on Dec. 17 and it took a few days just to confirm his death

The U.S. government says that Ayman was the main mastermind behind the 2020 attack on the military base in Kenya that left three Americans dead, two injured and six U.S. aircrafts destroyed. 

U.S. troops used the Kenya base for surveillance flights into Somalia. The base also provided training and counterterrorism support to East African partners. 

Following the attack, Ayman was wanted by the U.S. Rewards for Justice Program for $10 million.