In Somalia, al Shabaab Allegedly Loses Its Leader

Reports have emerged that Abu Ubeida, the leader of Somalia's al Shabaab militant group, may have been captured or killed in an Aug. 11 military operation in southern Somalia. Since then, news of ongoing security activities in Saakow, a town located in an area on the Juba River controlled by al Shabaab, have continued to trickle out of various media outlets. The alleged involvement of both Somali and U.S. special operations forces, as well as rumors of the interdiction of local communications networks, hinted that a significant offensive against key al Shabaab fighters or facilities was in the works. However, the news that Ubeida and several other high-level leaders were the targets of the raid could indicate a critical tactical victory in the ongoing effort to rein in the militant group....