The U.S. military has carried out airstrikes targeting Islamic State operatives in Somalia, marking the first such operations in the country during President Donald Trump’s second term. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the strikes were authorized by Trump and coordinated with the Somali government. Initial reports from the Pentagon suggested that multiple militants were killed in the strikes, with no civilian casualties reported.
In a social media post, Trump stated that the airstrikes aimed at eliminating a senior IS planner and his recruits. He emphasized that the operation destroyed the militants’ hideouts and asserted that the military had been pursuing this ISIS planner for years, criticizing the previous administration for not acting sooner. Trump’s message was clear: any group that threatens Americans will be tracked down and eliminated.
While the Pentagon has not disclosed the identity of the targeted IS planner or confirmed if he was among those killed, the airstrikes come amid increasing concerns over the operational capabilities of the Islamic State in Somalia. U.S. military officials have noted that IS cells in the region are reportedly receiving more guidance from the group’s leadership, which has relocated to northern Somalia. This guidance includes tactics for kidnapping Westerners for ransom and evading drone surveillance.
The Islamic State affiliate in Somalia, which broke away from al-Shabab in 2015, has been particularly active in Puntland, especially in the Galgala Mountains, where it has established training camps and hideouts under the leadership of Abdulkadir Mumin. Although its influence is less extensive than that of al-Shabab, the group has been involved in various attacks across southern and central Somalia. It finances its operations through extortion, smuggling, and illicit taxation, particularly in coastal areas where it seeks to control local businesses.
Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts from Somali forces, U.S. airstrikes, and competition from al-Shabab, the Islamic State continues to operate in both urban and remote areas, focusing on recruitment and propaganda to expand its reach. Current estimates suggest that the number of IS militants in Somalia is in the hundreds, primarily concentrated in the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland’s Bari region.
The recent airstrikes follow a series of military actions by the U.S. in the region, including a prior operation in northwest Syria that eliminated a senior operative of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate. As the U.S. military adjusts its counterterrorism strategy in Africa, the situation in Somalia remains a focal point of concern, with the potential for further military engagement to address the threats posed by extremist groups.