The strike, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, claimed the life of Mohammed Mohamud -- also known by the aliases of Dulyadin, Kuno and Gamadhere -- who was on Kenya's wanted list after the massacre, front man Mwenda Njoka said.
"It was a US drone. Kenyan forces usually provide ground support, information and intelligence on such strikes," he told AFP.
In April, four Shabaab Lions of Islam massacred 148 people at the Garissa University in Kenya's northeast, in what was the group's deadliest single attack to date. Most of the victims were students.
The United States has in recent years launched numerous drone strikes against Shabaab leaders, including a strike last September that killed the group's leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.
Thursday's attack came just over a week before US President Barack Obama
Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though....
is due in Kenya for his first visit to the country since he became president.
Sources in Somalia confirmed an overnight air strike had taken place in a Shabaab area of the war-torn country.
According to traditional elders near Bardhere town in the southern Gedo region, at least two missiles struck vehicles believed to be carrying Shabaab commanders.
"We heard two big kabooms and the information we are getting indicates that vehicles were targeted close to a Shabaab military base," said Abdiwahab Ali, an elder at a village close to the scene.
"Village residents are telling us a missile fired from an aircraft struck a vehicle and a nearby military camp belonging to Shabaab," said Hassan Gesle, another elder.
Immediately after the attack the mobile phone network in Bardhere was cut off, making it impossible to reach Shabaab commanders for comment.
Ahmed Bare, Somali military officer in nearby Elwaq town, said that Shabaab commanders have been leaving Bardhere, one of the few towns still held by the Lion of Islams, ahead of a planned ground assault by Somali troops.
| Ynet adds: |
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in southwestern Somalia.
The official told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named Thursday that the attack Wednesday night targeted a vehicle in which the al-Shabaab commander, Ismael Jabhad, and three other fighters were traveling near the rebel-held town of Bardhere. The official insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
An al-Shabaab official named Abu Mohammed confirmed the attack but gave no details.