The US said today it had killed the leader of al-Shabaab, the Somali terrorist group responsible for massacring dozens in a Kenyan shopping last year.

The White House called the death of Ahmed Godane "a major symbolic and operational loss" for al-Qaeda's largest and deadliest affiliate in Africa.

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US drones struck inside of Somalia on Monday in an effort to kill Godane but American intelligence was not able to immediately confirm whether the operation was a success.

That confirmation came Friday in a statement from the Pentagon.

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"We have confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the co-founder of al-Shabaab, has been killed. The US military undertook operations against Godane on September 1, which led to his death," a spokesman said.

Godane, who was in his late thirties, took over al-Shabaab after a US strike killed his predecessor in 2008. The well-educated Somali also spoke Arabic and was known as a charismatic orator and a lover of poetry.

Expand Close This photo taken Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 shows the scene inside the Artcaffe restaurant and coffee shop on the ground floor of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The four-day siege, which included the collapse of part of the mall, left 67 people dead, according to officials. (AP Photo) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp This photo taken Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 shows the scene inside the Artcaffe restaurant and coffee shop on the ground floor of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The four-day siege, which included the collapse of part of the mall, left 67 people dead, according to officials. (AP Photo)

After becoming the group's emir, an Islamic term for ruler, Godane made a formal pledge of allegiance to al-Qaeda and his group became one of the terror network's most violent offshoots.

There been tensions within the group since Godane took the helm and he has no heir apparent, meaning his death may lead to organisation chaos for the terror organisation.

Al-Shabaab has caused terror throughout the Horn of Africa, fighting constantly against the Ethiopian military and getting involved in piracy.

Its most high-profile attack came last year against the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, where gunmen killed more than 60 people over four days of chaos, including four Britons.

Al-Shabaab said the attack in Kenya was revenge for the Kenyan military joining an offensive in Ethiopia against Islamist forces.

The US has maintained a policy of drone strikes in Somalia since the Bush administration but the attack against a convoy carrying Godane was the most aggressive attack for months.

The vehicles were heading toward the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base, when they were struck. Two vehicles were destroyed including one carrying Godane.

Telegraph.co.uk