U.S. forces conducted airstrikes in Somalia on Saturday, targeting a senior Islamic State attack planner and other militants, resulting in multiple casualties, President Donald Trump announced.
- U.S. forces conducted airstrikes in Somalia targeting senior Islamic State attack planner and other militants.
- The strikes were aimed at destroying caves and killing terrorists without harming civilians.
- The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes in Africa for years, primarily targeting terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.
U.S. forces conducted airstrikes in Somalia on Saturday, targeting a senior Islamic State attack planner and other militants, resulting in multiple casualties, President Donald Trump announced.
The U.S. has conducted airstrikes in Africa for years, primarily targeting terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants. These operations are mostly concentrated in Somalia, Libya, and the Sahel region.
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What Trump said:
“These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.“
Saturday’s airstrikes targeted the Golis Mountains, with an initial assessment indicating that many militants were killed, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said, adding that no civilians were harmed, Reuters reported.
“Your bold and decisive leadership, Mr. President, in counterterrorism efforts is highly valued and welcomed in Somalia.“
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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was briefed on the strike, and he expressed gratitude to X for the United States’ continued support in the fight against terrorism.
Puntland’s Information Minister, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, stated that the U.S. strike hit Islamic State bases in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, part of the Golis range. “The number of casualties is still unknown as it was dark, but our forces on the frontline heard the explosions,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the strikes weakened Islamic State’s ability to plan and execute attacks against the United States, its allies, and civilians.
“It sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies, even as we conduct robust border protection and many other operations under President Trump’s leadership,” he said in a statement.
