On September 14 , 2009 , Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan , a senior al-Qaeda leader in East Africa as well as a senior leader in Shabaab , al Qaeda 's surrogate in Somalia , was killed by elements of U.S. Special Operations . According to a witness , at least two AH-6 Little Bird attack helicopters strafed a two-car convoy . Navy SEALs then seized the body of Nabhan and took two other wounded fighters captive . JSOC and the CIA had been trying to kill Nabhan for some time including back in January 2007 , when an AC-130 Gunship was called in on one attempt . A U.S. intelligence source stated that CIA paramilitary teams are directly embedded with Ethiopian forces in Somalia , allowing for the tactical intelligence to launch these operations . Nabhan was wanted for his involvement in the 1998 United States embassy bombings , as well as leading the cell behind the 2002 Mombasa attacks
1998 United States embassy bombings
1998 United States embassy bombings
Special Activities Center