article_snippet.sent: In fact, Thursday's attack on the university is one more sign of the weakness of Al-Shabaab, which has steadily been losing ground for years in Somalia as a result of the African Union forces fighting them there, as well as a covert U.S. drone and Special Operations Forces campaign that has also degraded the group's capabilities.
article_snippet.sent: Ground battles with African Union forces have decimated Al-Shabaab's rank-and-file, while U.S. drone strikes and Special Operations raids have killed some of the group's leaders.
article_snippet.sent: In the past four years, according to a count by New America, U.S. U.S. has launched a dozen drone strikes and six Special Operations raids against Al-Shabaab's.
article_snippet.sent: a dozen drone strikes and six Special Operations raids against Al-Shabaab have targeted the group's training camps and leaders.
article_snippet.sent: American drones or special operators have killed 10 leaders: Aden Hashi Ayro, the top commander; Ahmed Abdi Godane, Ayro's successor; a top commander, Sheikh Muhidin Mohamud Omar; Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, a senior official who operated training camps; commander Jabreel Malik Muhammed; Bilal al-Berjawi, the deputy of military leader Fazul Abdullah Mohammed; chief bomb-maker Ibrahim Ali Abdi; intelligence chief Tahlil Abdishakur; Yusef Dheeq, the chief of external operations and planning for intelligence and security; and Adan Garar, who was involved in planning the Westgate Mall attack.
article_snippet.sent: Al-Shabaab's has been unraveling for years.
article_snippet.sent: the Westgate Mall attack should remind the world that Al-Shabaab's is a pale shadow of the organization that once dominated much of Somalia but now is reduced to high profile attacks against undefended civilian targets.​ .
highlights_snippet.sent: Authors: the group's deadliest is under pressure from African Union forces and a covert U.S. war .