The United States military has launched airstrikes on Islamic State operatives in Somalia, marking the first attacks in the African country during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that Trump authorized the U.S. Africa Command operations, which were coordinated with Somalia’s government.
The Pentagon’s first evaluation suggested that “multiple” operators had been killed. The Pentagon said that no civilians were injured in the attacks.
In a social media tweet, Trump stated that the operation targeted a top IS planner as well as recruits.
“The attacks demolished the caverns where they lived and killed numerous terrorists while causing no harm to civilians. Our military has been targeting this ISIS attack planner for years, but Biden and his allies have failed to act swiftly enough to complete the mission. I did!” Trump stated. “The message to ISIS and any others who would attack Americans is that “WE WILL FIND YOU AND KILL YOU!”
Trump did not name the IS planner or indicate if he was killed in the operation. Officials at the White House did not immediately reply to calls for comment.
According to the office of Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the operation “reinforces the strong security partnership” between the two nations in “combating extremist threats.” A post on X said that Somalia “remains resolute in working with its allies to eliminate international terrorism and ensure regional stability.”
The Pentagon’s counterterrorism strategy in Africa has been strained since last year, when two key partners, Chad and Niger, ousted US forces and took over key bases used by the US military to train and conduct missions against terrorist groups in the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara.
US military sources have warned that IS cells in northern Somalia are receiving increased guidance from the group’s leadership, which has moved. This has covered how to abduct Westerners for ransom, improve military tactics, hide from drones, and create their own mini quadcopters.
The IS affiliate in Somalia originated in 2015 as a breakaway unit from al-Shabab, al-Qaida’s East African connection, and is mostly active in Puntland, notably in the Galgala Mountains, where it has created hideouts and training camps. Abdulkadir Mumin leads the group.
While it has less impact than Al-Shabaab, IS in Somalia has carried out assaults in southern and central Somalia. The organization supports its operations by extortion, smuggling, and illegal taxes, notably in coastal regions where it has sought to dominate local businesses.
Despite counterterrorism pressure from Somali government forces, US airstrikes, and al-Shabab rivalries, the group continues to operate in distant and urban locations, attempting to spread its power via recruiting and propaganda.
According to the International Crisis Group, there are hundreds of IS fighters in the country, the majority of them are spread over the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland’s Bari province.
Saturday’s action came after military attacks in northwest Syria on Jan. 30, which killed a key operative in Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda offshoot, according to US Central Command.