September 2, 2014-AP reports that U.S. military forces attacked al-Shabaab in Somalia on Monday. According to the pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, “U.S. military forces conducted and operation in Somalia today against the al-Shabaab network. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate.”

The AP further reports that following the air strike south of Mogadishu, masked Islamic militants presumed to be al-Shabaab arrested dozens of residents they accused of spying for the U.S.

A senior Somali intelligence officer said a U.S. drone targets al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, the group’s spiritual leader. Zybeyr is known to have forged the alliance with al-Qaeda.

According to the Somali intelligence officer, Godane “might have been killed along with other al-Shabaab fighters. The attack took place in an area where al-Shabaab trains its fighters.

the attack takes place following a failed attempt by al-Shabaab on a government intelligence and prison installation.