The U.S. military has carried out airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Somalia, marking the first such attack in the African nation under President Donald Trump’s second term.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on February 1 that the airstrikes, conducted by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), were ordered by President Trump and carried out in coordination with the Somali government, according to Reuters.
Pentagon: Multiple ISIS Fighters Killed
An initial assessment by the Pentagon indicated that the strikes killed multiple ISIS fighters.
"The strikes destroyed the terrorists' hideouts and eliminated several militants without harming any civilians," President Trump wrote on social media.
Trump stated that the primary target of the operation was a high-ranking ISIS planner and several new recruits.
"Our military has been tracking this ISIS attack planner for years, but the Biden administration and his allies failed to act quickly enough. I got it done!" Trump declared.
"The message to ISIS and all those who seek to harm Americans is simple: WE WILL FIND YOU AND WE WILL KILL YOU!" he added, without revealing the identity of the targeted militant or confirming whether they were killed.
The White House has not yet responded to media requests for comment.
Shifting U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy in Africa
The U.S. military's counterterrorism efforts in Africa have faced increasing challenges as two key regional allies—Chad and Niger—expelled U.S. forces last year and took control of military bases previously used for counterterrorism training and operations across the Sahel region.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have warned that ISIS factions in Somalia have been receiving growing guidance from ISIS leadership, which has relocated to northern Somalia. These directives reportedly include:
- Kidnapping Westerners for ransom
- Improving battlefield tactics
- Evading drone surveillance
- Developing their own quadcopter drones
ISIS in Somalia: A Growing Threat
The Somali branch of ISIS emerged in 2015 as a breakaway faction from al-Shabab, the East African affiliate of al-Qaeda. The group is most active in Puntland, particularly in the Galgala Mountains, where it has established hideouts and training camps under the leadership of Abdulkadir Mumin.
While ISIS in Somalia remains smaller than al-Shabab, it has expanded operations in southern and central Somalia, financing its activities through:
- Extortion
- Smuggling
- Illegal taxation
The group seeks to control coastal trade routes and exert influence over local businesses.
Despite pressure from Somali security forces, U.S. airstrikes, and rivalry with al-Shabab, ISIS continues to operate in remote and urban areas, recruit fighters, and spread propaganda.
According to the International Crisis Group, the number of ISIS fighters in Somalia is estimated to be in the hundreds, with most based in the Cal Miskaat Mountains in Puntland’s Bari region.
U.S. Expands Strikes Against Terror Groups
The February 1 operation in Somalia follows U.S. airstrikes on January 30 in northwestern Syria, which killed a senior member of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda-linked group, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The latest strikes in Somalia indicate that President Trump is ramping up military operations against terrorist groups worldwide, signaling a more aggressive approach to counterterrorism in his second term.
