The US military has launched airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) operatives in Somalia, marking the first such strikes during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. The attacks were carried out in the Golis Mountains, located in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia. This area is home to IS-Somalia, a faction that split from the larger al-Shabaab militant group in 2015. Al-Shabaab still maintains control over parts of southern Somalia.
On Saturday, Trump confirmed that the strikes were aimed at a senior IS attack planner, as well as other members of the group. He shared the news on Truth Social, stating: “These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.”
Trump further criticised the Biden administration for its perceived delay in taking action, asserting that the figure targeted in the strike had been a priority for the US for several years. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed that initial assessments indicated multiple militants were killed, with no civilian casualties reported.
The US military has conducted several strikes against IS-Somalia, a group estimated to have between 300 and 700 members, with a significant portion believed to be foreign fighters. The Puntland government has been actively engaged in operations against IS-Somalia, following a deadly attack on its security forces in December 2023.
Puntland has expressed gratitude for the support provided by the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud acknowledged the US military’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism in the region.
