Africa :U.S. forces conducted airstrikes in Somalia on Saturday, targeting a senior Islamic State attack planner and other members of the militant group, resulting in multiple casualties, President Donald Trump announced.
“These killers, who were found hiding in caves, posed a direct threat to the United States and our allies,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “The strikes destroyed their hideouts and eliminated numerous terrorists without causing harm to civilians.”
The strikes were carried out in the Golis Mountains, and an initial assessment indicated that a significant number of militants were killed, according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He emphasized that no civilian casualties were reported.
The Somali government confirmed its awareness of the operation, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressing gratitude for U.S. support in counterterrorism efforts. “Your bold and decisive leadership, Mr. President, in counterterrorism efforts is highly valued and welcomed in Somalia,” Mohamud stated on X.
Somalia’s Puntland state information minister, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, confirmed that the strikes targeted Islamic State bases in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, part of the Golis range. “The exact number of casualties remains unknown due to darkness, but our frontline forces heard the explosions,” Dirir told Reuters.
Hegseth emphasized that the operation significantly weakened the Islamic State’s ability to coordinate and execute attacks against the United States, its allies, and civilians. “This strike sends a clear message that the United States remains vigilant and will take decisive action against threats, even as we continue to focus on border protection and other national security priorities,” he said in an official statement.
The United States has conducted periodic airstrikes in Somalia for years, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region.
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