Trump orders 100+ Somalia airstrikes in 2025 vs Biden’s 10 in 2024

JOHANNESBURG: The variety of US airstrikes in opposition to jihadist terrorists in Somalia has elevated greater than tenfold this 12 months beneath the Trump administration, in comparison with missions carried out in 2024 beneath President Biden.

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed to Fox Information Digital on Friday that it has performed 10 airstrikes in 2024 and has performed greater than 100 airstrikes in Somalia to date this 12 months.

Within the newest army motion Tuesday, AFRICOM personnel had been concerned in an airstrike and reportedly a firefight lasting as much as 4 hours with ISIS-Somali jihadists in Puntland, within the north of this African nation. The operation was carried out, AFRICOM stated in a media assertion, “in coordination with the Federal Authorities of Somalia.”

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US troops full operation in opposition to ISIS in Somalia. August 2025. (Jaron Willis/AFRICOM)

A number of native sources reported that high-value ISIS targets had been hit, with reviews {that a} high-level terrorist chief was killed or captured, and as much as ten terrorists had been killed. There aren’t any reviews of American casualties.

This assault is the most recent in a sequence of missions over Somalia in opposition to varied jihadist teams, primarily ISIS, ISIS-Somalia and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab.

An AFRICOM spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital on Thursday that the US “performed an airstrike roughly 40 miles southeast of Bossaso. Up to now, now we have performed 101 airstrikes in Somalia – 59 of which particularly focused ISIS-Somalia. Working with the Federal Authorities of Somalia, we proceed to take motion to cut back the power of ISIS-Somalia and Al-Shabab to threaten the American homeland, our armed forces and our residents overseas.”

A file photograph exhibits Al-Shabab terrorists conducting army workouts within the Suqaholaha neighborhood of northern Mogadishu, Somalia, on Sunday, September 5, 2010. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photograph)

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Native sources report that on this newest assault, US MQ9 Reaper drones had been the primary to launch missiles on the terrorists, who had been reportedly in and round a big cave. This was reportedly adopted by an assault with ten helicopters. A number of sources declare that American troops disembarked from helicopters through the battle.

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However U.S. army officers dismissed the truth that U.S. troops entered Somali territory, insisting that no floor operation by U.S. forces occurred and twice stating that such reviews are inaccurate. In a public assertion, AFRICOM stated that “particular particulars about models and belongings won’t be launched to make sure the protection of continued operations.”

US troops full operation in opposition to ISIS in Somalia. August 2025. (Hannah Kantner/AFRICOM)

In August, AFRICOM acknowledged that they’d performed a number of airstrikes in opposition to ISIS fighters, with AFRICOM Commander Normal Dagvin Anderson saying, “These lethal strikes reveal our resolve and dedication to making sure that People and our companions stay protected from the specter of international terrorism.” The overall went on to say that the assaults had been “in opposition to a corporation that desires to export their terror to the US and our allies.”

US planes launched from an plane provider had been seen in official photographs accompanying the media assertion on the assaults.

Ahmed Soliman, senior analysis fellow, Africa Program, Chatham Home, informed Fox Information Digital: “The US is focusing [ISIS] in Puntland is partly pushed by the aim of stopping one other worldwide [ISIS] that no ‘protected haven’ will emerge, in addition to the potential risk posed by the recruitment of international fighters by ISIS-Somalia.

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He continued: “The imbalance, nevertheless, has led to rising issues that the worldwide response could lag behind the tempo of Al-Shabab’s resurgence in central and southern Somalia. Al-Shabab has leveraged this shifting worldwide focus to reconsolidate its areas of operations. The group’s progress has taken place in opposition to the backdrop of Somalia’s more and more fragmented home political panorama. Ongoing energy struggles between the FGS (Federal Authorities of Somalia) and member states reminiscent of Puntland and Somalia. Jubaland has undermined coordination and counter-terrorism efforts.”

In Might, then-AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael E. Langley, referring to assaults in Somalia, informed Air & Area Forces Journal, “The U.S. is actively pursuing and eliminating jihadists.”