Suspected al-Shabab associate captured in U.S.-Somali raid
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The U.S. military says a mission in Somalia has detained a suspected associate of the al-Shabab extremist group who once lived in the United States.
A U.S. Africa Command spokeswoman said Wednesday that Abdirizak Tahlil is accused of "facilitating the use of improvised explosive devices in Somalia" and is detained by Somalia's government.
The Trump administration recently approved stepped-up military efforts against al-Shabab, which is Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist group.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Dyrcz says the mission that captured Tahlil was led by Somalia's military with "limited tactical advisory support" from U.S. forces on Sunday morning.
Dyrcz says Tahlil reportedly was granted status as a lawful U.S. permanent resident and lived in the United States between 2006 and 2009.
On Sunday, al-Shabab mocked President Trump in a video that called him a "brainless billionaire" as his administration steps up military efforts against the extremist group.
It was the first public criticism by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab of Mr. Trump since his election. The SITE Intelligence Group said the video included the comments as the extremist group addressed next month's presidential election in neighboring Kenya
The video said Mr. Trump is "making the United States the greatest joke on earth and is now propelling it further to its eventual defeat and destruction."
