Leaflets with bounty on top American Shabaab operative appear in Bay region

 Unidentified aircrafts Friday dropped leaflets in Bay region in south western Somalia containing an appeal for information leading to the capture of a U.S citizen said to be fighting alongside Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

The leaflets collected by residents in Dinsoor locality and later circulated online contain the image of Jehad Serwan Mustafa, the highest ranking American working with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

According to the appeal, those with information leading to the capture of Mustafa will be awarded $5 million and even  secure relocation outside the country.

It was not immediately clear who dropped the leaflets but the US has ratcheted up operations against Al-Shabaab in recent months in coordination with Somali Forces.

The US announced resumption of aid to Somali National Army Wednesday noting the support will be focused on fighting terrorism in Somalia.

Similar bounties have been announced by the US in the past on key Al-Shabaab figures but none has been awarded.