The United States has launched airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Somalia, claiming to have killed many militants. President Donald Trump said the attack targeted a senior IS planner and was carried out to protect the US and its allies.
“These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our allies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The strikes destroyed their caves and eliminated many terrorists without harming civilians.”
The airstrikes hit the Golis Mountains, a known IS stronghold, according to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He stated that initial reports suggested a high number of militant casualties. “This operation sends a clear signal that the US will always find and eliminate terrorists who threaten our country,” he said.
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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the strikes, thanking the US for its continued support in the fight against terrorism. “Your bold and decisive leadership is highly valued in Somalia,” he posted on X.
The information minister of Puntland, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, confirmed the attack took place in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, part of the Golis range. “The number of casualties is still unknown, but our forces heard the explosions,” he told Reuters.
The US has conducted airstrikes in Somalia for years under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The latest attack underscores Washington’s ongoing military presence in the region as it seeks to weaken IS influence in East Africa.
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