2nd lead
Al-Shabab named its new leader Saturday after the White House and Pentagon confirmed that the leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed in a US air strike south of the Somali capital Mogadishu, on September 1.
Confirming the death of Gogane, Al Shabab named Ahmad Umar as his successor, in a statement posted online.
"Avenging the death of our scholars and leaders is a binding obligation on our shoulders that we will never relinquish nor forget no matter how long it takes. By the permission of Allah, you will surely taste the bitter consequences of your actions," the group said.
On Friday, the Pentagon confirmed the "U.S. military undertook operations against Godane on Sept. 1, which led to his death", adding that "removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss” to al-Shabab."
“The United States works in coordination with its friends, allies and partners to counter the regional and global threats posed by violent extremist organizations," Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior US defence official told the Washington Post that the death was verified via a “a series of indicators, based on intelligence", but declined to give further details, the paper reported.
Al-Shabab fighters have been offered an amnesty by the Somali government following Godane's death. Fighters have been given 45 days to surrender to authorities, the government said on Wednesday.