U.S. Military Launches Airstrikes Against Islamic State in Somalia

SOSomalia|

The U.S. military has executed airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) operatives in Somalia, marking the first such operations under President Donald Trump's second term, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The strikes, coordinated with the Somali government, aimed to eliminate multiple IS operatives, with initial Pentagon assessments indicating no civilian casualties occurred.

Trump, in a social media post, claimed the strikes were directed at a senior IS planner and noted the destruction of IS hideouts. He emphasized a renewed commitment to counterterrorism, boasting, “We WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!” The attack follows a recent rise in IS activity in Somalia, where they have been linked to kidnappings and extortion efforts.

Reports from the International Crisis Group estimate that hundreds of IS militants remain active in Somalia, particularly in the Puntland region, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts from U.S. forces and Somali security. The airstrikes are part of a broader strategy to suppress terrorism in the region, which has seen increased collaboration among various terror factions since their emergence in 2015.

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