Faith Nyasuguta
The United States launched airstrikes in Somalia on Saturday, targeting a senior Islamic State (IS) attack planner and other operatives. President Donald Trump announced the strikes, emphasizing their success in eliminating militants without civilian casualties.
“These killers, hiding in caves, posed a threat to the US and our allies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The strikes destroyed their hideouts and eliminated many terrorists.”
The attacks took place in the Golis Mountains, a known IS stronghold. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, stating that multiple operatives were killed. While an initial assessment suggested no civilian casualties, Reuters could not independently verify the details.
A Somali government official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the strikes and expressed support for the US action. “Somalia cannot be a safe haven for terrorists,” the official said, noting that authorities were still assessing the impact.
Hegseth underscored the operation’s significance, stating it weakened IS’s ability to plan and execute attacks against the US, its allies, and civilians. “This sends a strong message that the US will always eliminate threats, even as we prioritize border security and other national concerns,” he added.
The US has conducted airstrikes in Somalia for years, targeting militant groups under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Last year, a joint US-Somalia operation killed three IS fighters, reinforcing ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region.
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