Lebanese Shebab Fighter with British Citizenship Killed in Somalia

A Lebanese-British fighter with the Islamist Shebab militia in Somalia was killed Saturday during a drone attack in the capital Mogadishu, said the movement's spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamoud Rage.

"This afternoon unmanned aircraft bombed and killed our brother Hilal al-Barzawi from Lebanon with British citizenship who fought in Somalia for a long time," he told reporters.

He added that they were not yet sure to whom the aircraft belonged, "but it is America that is known for utilizing such aircraft."

Targeting people like Barzawi would not put off the Shebab, he said, adding: "God willing we are all waiting to be martyrs like him."

Witnesses reported at least three explosions near Garasbaley, about 13 kilometers south of Mogadishu.

"We heard three explosions a few minutes after recognizing the sound of aircraft," said one witness, Bashir Ali.

"One of the missiles apparently hit a car belonging to al-Shebab fighters but we don’t know who was targeted," he added.

News of the death came as Somalia's transitional government forces vowed Saturday to rid Mogadishu of all "violent elements".

On Friday they launched a major offensive aimed at dislodging the al-Qaida-linked Shebab militia from the capital.