US Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIS in Somalia, Killing Multiple Operatives
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) operatives in Somalia, marking the first such operation in the African nation during President Donald Trump’s second term.
According to U.S. officials, the airstrikes were carried out by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and were coordinated with the Somali government. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Saturday that the strikes were personally directed by Trump.
An initial assessment from the Pentagon indicated that multiple ISIS operatives were killed in the operation. The U.S. military emphasized that no civilians were harmed in the attacks.
Trump Takes Credit for Strikes
President Trump addressed the operation in a social media post, saying that a senior ISIS planner and recruits were among the targets.
“The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians,” Trump wrote. “Our military has targeted this ISIS Attack Planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done. I did!”
Trump did not specify the identity of the targeted ISIS planner or confirm whether they were killed in the strike. The White House has not issued an official statement on the operation.
Growing ISIS Threat in Somalia
U.S. military officials have been increasingly concerned about ISIS’s growing influence in northern Somalia. Intelligence reports indicate that ISIS leadership has shifted some operations to Somalia, providing guidance on kidnapping Westerners for ransom, improving military tactics, and evading drone surveillance.
The Islamic State’s presence in Somalia is estimated to be in the hundreds, primarily concentrated in the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland’s Bari region, according to the International Crisis Group.
This latest operation follows a similar U.S. airstrike in May 2024, which targeted ISIS militants in Somalia and killed three fighters.
US Counterterrorism Strategy in Africa Faces Challenges
The U.S. counterterrorism strategy in Africa has been complicated by geopolitical shifts. Last year, key U.S. allies Chad and Niger ousted American forces and reclaimed control of bases previously used for counterterrorism missions against extremist groups in the Sahel region.
Despite these challenges, the Pentagon remains committed to targeting ISIS and other terrorist organizations operating in the region.
Recent US Airstrikes Against Terror Groups
Saturday’s operation in Somalia comes just days after U.S. forces conducted airstrikes in northwest Syria on January 30. That attack targeted a senior operative of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate, according to the U.S. Central Command.
With ISIS attempting to regroup in various parts of Africa and the Middle East, the latest U.S. airstrikes signal a continued focus on counterterrorism efforts under the Trump administration.
