U.S. Military Targets ISIS Operatives in Somalia, Eliminating Key Attack Planner

The United States military carried out a series of airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) operatives in Somalia on Saturday — the first such operation in the country under President Donald Trump’s second term. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strikes were personally authorized by President Trump and conducted in close coordination with the Somali government.

According to an initial statement from the Pentagon, the operation successfully neutralized several IS members without any reports of civilian casualties. The airstrikes were aimed at a senior ISIS attack planner and a group of recruits, with precision strikes destroying the cave complexes used as their base of operations.

President Trump hailed the mission as a major success, announcing on social media that the U.S. forces had eliminated a top ISIS strategist responsible for planning future attacks. He also used the occasion to criticize the previous administration for what he described as a “lack of urgency” in combating global terrorism, declaring, “We WILL find you, and WE WILL kill you!”

The President reiterated his firm stance on counterterrorism, stressing that the United States will continue to pursue and eliminate individuals or groups that threaten American citizens or interests abroad.

Somalia–U.S. Joint Operation Bolsters Security Ties Amid Ongoing Counterterrorism Drive

Somalia has voiced its full support for the recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) operatives, calling the operation a testament to the “strong security partnership” between the two nations. In a statement from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s office, the Somali government reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with international allies to combat global terrorism and promote lasting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The Pentagon’s counterterrorism campaign in Africa has faced renewed challenges following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Chad and Niger last year — nations that had served as key hubs for training missions and operations against extremist groups across the Sahel. Despite these setbacks, U.S. defense officials have maintained that cooperation with Somalia remains vital, especially as IS cells in the country’s north grow more organized and increasingly connected to the group’s global leadership.

Reports indicate that IS operatives in northern Somalia have received direct guidance on abduction tactics, ransom operations, military training, and drone evasion — as well as instructions on building small quadcopters for reconnaissance. These developments underline the evolving threat landscape confronting both Somali and U.S. security forces.

The latest airstrikes, conducted in the Galgala Mountains of Puntland, marked the first U.S. military action in Somalia under President Donald Trump’s second term. Approved by Trump and coordinated with the Somali government, the strikes targeted a senior IS planner and several recruits, successfully neutralizing multiple operatives without any civilian casualties, according to Pentagon officials.

IS in Somalia — an offshoot of the al-Shabab insurgency — has remained active since 2015, largely confined to remote areas of Puntland. Despite sustained military pressure, the group continues to finance its activities through extortion, illegal taxation, and recruitment propaganda, posing an enduring challenge to regional security.

The joint operation highlights both nations’ continued resolve to dismantle extremist networks and safeguard stability in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.

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