Somali Al-Shebab fighters gather on February 13, 2012 in Elasha Biyaha, in the Afgoei Corridor, after a demonstration to support the merger of Al-shebab and the Al-Qaeda network. Shebab insurgents staged rallies across Somalia on February 13 to celebrate their group's recognition by Osama bin Laden's successor as a member of the Islamist Al-Qaeda network. Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri announced in a video message posted on jihadist forums on February 9, 2012 that Shebab fighters had joined ranks with the Islamist network. AFP PHOTO / Mohamed Abdiwahab (Photo credit should read Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP/Getty Images)
Why Al-Shabaab is a growing threat (2015)
01:37 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

Mahad Mohammed Karatey was killed along with 52 others, the Kenyan military says

An Al-Shabaab spokesman denied that an airstrike happened; a Somali government official said Karatey may still be alive

Karatey is known as the head of the Amniyat, Al-Shabaab's intelligence wing

Nairobi, Kenya CNN  — 

A Kenyan airstrike in Somalia has killed at least 52 militants from the Islamist terror organization Al-Shabaab, including its intelligence chief, the Kenyan military said. But Al-Shabaab denied that there was any strike, and a Somali government official cast doubt on the intelligence chief’s death.

The strike earlier this month targeted a camp where the Kenya Defence Forces said the Amniyat, Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, was training around 80 recruits.

Mahad Mohammed Karatey, also known as Mahat Karatey, was killed along with 10 mid level Al-Shabaab commanders and 42 recruits, said the KDF, which is part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

He was attending a graduation ceremony for the recruits, the KDF said.

The U.S. Department of State has designated Karatey as a terrorist and is offering up to $5 million for information locating him.

Contradicting claims

But Al-Shabaab contradicted the KDF on a radio station sympathetic to their cause – Radio Andulus – saying “Al-Shabaab denies that any airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab has taken place. The intention of Kenya is to divert attention from El Adde, [Somali,] where hundreds of Kenyan troops died.”

A suicide bombing attack struck an African Union base there in January.

Al-Shabaab hits African Union base in Somalia

In addition, a Somali intelligence source told CNN that officials do not believe that Karatey is dead. They also believe an Amniyat training program would never involve so many people.

Terrorist Karatey

Karatey is known as a high-level Al-Shabaab commander of the Amniyat.

Kenyan and U.S. authorities believe Karatey was directly involved in the attack on Garissa University in Kenya last year, which killed 148 people. Most of them were students.

Authorities also believe Karatey had a hand in the El Adde attack.

Kenya attack victims: Vigil mourns 147 slain by terrorists in Garissa

Al-Shabaab bloodshed

Al-Shabaab most recently claimed responsibility for the failed bombing of a Daallo Airlines flight departing Mogadishu in early February. The explosion killed only the bomber and injured two others. But the bomb, said to be sophisticated, was believed to be hidden in a laptop.

Al-Shabaab is fighting a guerrilla war in Somalia with the intention of imposing Sharia law. It has also regularly carried out attacks with multiple casualties in Kenya and has sworn revenge for that country’s military participation against the terrorists in Somalia.

The terror group is officially affiliated with al Qaeda, although last year a fraction pledged allegiance to ISIS.

What is Al-Shabaab and what does it want?

Journalist Omar Nor in Mogadishu contributed to this report