Under the current administration, U.S. forces have sharply increased their airstrike campaign in Somalia, targeting jihadist groups linked to ISIS‑Somalia and al‑Shabaab in coordinated operations with the Somali government.
Military officials confirm that air operations over Somalia have skyrocketed — with more than 100 strikes conducted so far this year, compared with just a handful last year. These missions have focused on dismantling terror hideouts deep in the country’s rugged terrain, including cave systems in mountainous regions.
In the latest strike, U.S. forces engaged ISIS-Somalia militants in Puntland in a prolonged operation that reportedly lasted several hours and resulted in significant militant casualties. Local government sources say a high-level terrorist leader may have been among those killed or captured.
Defense authorities say these precision strikes aim to degrade the terrorists’ ability to plan and carry out attacks on both Somalia and U.S. interests abroad. No U.S. casualties have been reported in the most recent operations.
As the campaign intensifies, Washington has emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to supporting Somalia’s federal forces while working to minimize civilian harm. The escalation signals a renewed focus on overseas counterterrorism efforts under current U.S. leadership.