Aden Hashi Farah Aero

Aden Hashi Farah Aero (Somali: Aaden Xaashi Faarax Ceyroow, Arabic: عدن هاشي فرح‎) (died 1 May 2008[1]) was the military commander of the Hizbul Shabaab. He was from the Ayr sub-clan,[2] part of the Habar Gidir, which is a branch of the Hawiye clan. He was reportedly married to Halima Abdi Issa Yusuf. He was among several militants killed in a U.S. airstrike on May 1, 2008.

Aden Hashi Farah Aero
Died
Dhusamareb, Somalia
Cause of deathU.S. Airstrike
NationalitySomalia
Known forMilitary commander of Hizbul Shabaab
Spouse(s)Halima Abdi Issa Yusuf

Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda

Aden Hashi Farah Aero was said to have gone to Afghanistan to train with al-Qaeda before 2001, according to Matthew Bryden of International Crisis Group.[3]

According to International Crisis Group, it was after this stint with the terror organisation that he went back to Somalia in 2003 to set up a network with other al-Itihaad al-Islamiya veterans to assassinate foreigners and opponents, culminating in the eventual deaths of four foreign aid workers and at least ten Somali former military and police officers. On June 10, 2006, The Guardian repeated this story by stating, "An unnamed network run by one of Aweys's proteges, Aden Hashi Farah "Aero", has been linked to the murder of four western aid workers and more than a dozen Somalis who allegedly cooperated with counter-terror organisations."[4]

He was placed in charge of the Shabaab by Hassan Dahir Aweys, but an October 2006 article in The Economist indicated Aweys may have had some regrets regarding the appointment.[5]

Attempt on life

Theresa Whelan, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, in a press conference on January 17, 2007, said she believed the U.S. AC-130 gunship raid which occurred on January 8 had killed eight fighters linked to Aden Hashi Farah Aero. Aero was believed to have been wounded in the attack and perhaps killed.[6] However, on March 7, 2007 an audio tape issued by Aden Hashi Aero was sent to the Koran Radio station in Mogadishu.[7]

Al-Qaeda in Somalia

According to intelligence provided to Somalia's Deputy Defence Minister, Salad Ali Jelle, Aden Hashi Aero was named by Al Qaeda as its leader in the wartorn nation.[8][9] It was also reported by the Associated Press that the United Nations have attributed 16 killings to him, including BBC journalist Kate Peyton. They also reported a failed attempt to bring down an Ethiopian airliner.

Death
Main article: Dhusamareb airstrike

On May 1, 2008, Aero and another important leader of the Hizbul Shabaab, Sheikh Muhyadin Omar, were killed by a U.S. airstrike on his house in the town of Dhusamareb.[10] Paul Salopek reported in the Chicago Tribune that jihadists vowed to kill every foreigner in Somalia in response.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Air raid 'kills Somali militants'". BBC News. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  2. "Islamic Courts Union's victory over U.S.-backed warlords in Somalia only brings it closer scrutiny". Associated Press. 2006-06-20. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  3. "Canadian among Islamists". National Post. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  4. Burkeman, Oliver (2006-06-10). "Fall of Mogadishu Leaves US Policy in Ruins". The Guardian International. London. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  5. "Islamists half-ready for holy war". The Economist. 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  6. "U.S. raid may have hit top Somali militant: Pentagon". Reuters. 2006-01-17. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  7. "AU troops under attack in Mogadishu". Al Jazeera. 2006-01-17. Archived from the original on 2007-03-09. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  8. "Al-Qaeda names cell leader". London: AP. 2006-01-17. Retrieved 2007-03-23.
  9. "Somali gov't names Qaeda leader as fighting rages". Reuters. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
  10. France 24 | Eight killed in air strike on Somalia Islamists: residents | France 24
  11. Paul Salopek (2008-11-28). "U.S. appears to be losing its secret war in Somalia". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
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