(VOVworld) – The US announced on Monday it has killed two senior leaders of Islamic State in Libya and the Al Qaeda-affiliated group al Shabaab during recent air strikes.

US air strike carried out by F-15 aircraft killed the leader of ISIL in Libya, Abu Nabil [Anatoliy Lukich/Shutterstock]

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said a November 13 US airstrike in Libya killed Iraqi national Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi, a longtime al-Qaida operative and senior IS leader. He said a different trike in Somalia on Wednesday, which specifically targeted Abdirahman Sandhere, known as “Ukash”, a senior leader in al-Shabaab group, killed Sandhere and two other al Shabaab  associates. Cook said Ukash's removal from the battlefield is a significant blow to al-Shabaab and is an important step forward in the fight against the extremist group.

The al-Shabaab has carried out dozens of attacks in East Africa and in February, launched a video calling for attacks at commercial centers in the US, Canada, and Britain.