U.S. airstrikes in Somalia soar to more than 100 under Trump administration

NAIROBI, Kenya — The number of U.S. airstrikes against ISIS and Al-Shabaab in Somalia has surged more than tenfold under the Trump administration so far this year, compared with 10 missions carried out under President Biden in 2024, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Friday.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that it conducted 10 airstrikes in 2024, and that so far this year, it has carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Somalia.

In the latest operation on Tuesday, AFRICOM personnel conducted an airstrike and reportedly engaged in a gun battle lasting up to four hours with ISIS-Somalia fighters in Puntland, northeastern SU.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that it conducted 10 airstrikes in 2024, and that so far this year,omalia. AFRICOM said the mission was conducted “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.”

Local sources reported that high-value ISIS targets were struck, including a senior terror leader who was reportedly killed or captured, along with up to 10 other militants. There were no reported U.S. casualties.

The strike is part of a series of U.S. operations targeting ISIS, ISIS-Somalia, and the al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab. AFRICOM said Thursday that to date this year, it has conducted 101 airstrikes in Somalia, 59 of them specifically targeting ISIS-Somalia.

Local reports indicated that MQ-9 Reaper drones first launched missiles on fighters positioned around a large cave, followed by an attack involving 10 helicopters. Some sources claimed U.S. troops disembarked from the helicopters, but AFRICOM officials dismissed the reports of American forces on the ground, emphasizing there was no ground operation.

In August, AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson said the strikes demonstrated the U.S. commitment to keeping Americans and allies safe from global terrorism, targeting groups seeking to export terror abroad.

Ahmed Soliman, senior research fellow at Chatham House, told Fox News Digital that the U.S. focus in Puntland aims to prevent another ISIS “safe haven” and curb recruitment of foreign fighters. However, he noted that Al-Shabaab has used shifts in international attention to regain ground amid Somalia’s fragmented political landscape and ongoing disputes between the federal government and regional states like Puntland and Jubaland.

In May, AFRICOM’s then-commander Gen. Michael E. Langley said the U.S. is “actively pursuing and eliminating jihadists” in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE