PARIS: French intelligence services assisted Washington in the operation that killed the commander of Somalia’s Shebab militant group earlier this month, local media reported on Saturday.

“France and President (Francois Hollande) supported with intelligence and coordination” a US air strike that killed Ahmed Godane, the commander of the Islamist faction responsible for a string of deadly attacks throughout Somalia, the weekly Le Point magazine said.

The US confirmed that Godane — one of the world’s eight top terror fugitives — was killed in a drone and aircraft strike in southern Somalia on September 1.

Paris is said to hold Godane responsible for the capture of two French intelligence agents in Somalia in 2009. One, Denis Allex, was killed in an unsuccessful commando raid to free him in January 2013.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2014