Unclear if U.S. Strike Killed Somalia's Shebab Leader

A U.S. air raid in Somalia targeted the leader of Somalia's Shebab militants but it remained unclear if the top commander was killed in the strike, two American officials confirmed Tuesday.

Military and intelligence officers were still assessing the results of Monday's bombing raid, said two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The operation was carried out exclusively by aircraft and "no ground troops were involved," one of the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Agence France-Presse.

The officials confirmed that the attack was aimed at Ahmed Abdi Godane, also referred to as Abu-Zubayr.

The governor for southern Somalia's Lower Shabelle region, Abdukadir Mohamed Nur, had said earlier that U.S. forces had conducted a "major air strike" south of the capital Mogadishu against a gathering of Shebab senior figures, including the militants' senior commander, Godane.

The State Department has listed Godane as one of the world's eight top terror fugitives and if confirmed, his death would mark a major setback for the Shebab forces.

"We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate," Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement earlier.

U.S. special operations forces last October launched an attack on a house in Barawe against a top Shebab commander but were forced to withdraw without taking out their target.