U.S. Military Strikes ISIS Leaders in Somalia on Trump’s Orders

The U.S. military carried out a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting ISIS operatives in Somalia, marking the first such military action in the African nation since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term.

In a statement posted on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump confirmed that he had personally ordered the strikes, emphasizing their precision and strategic importance. According to his post, the operation specifically targeted a senior ISIS attack planner, along with several other terrorists whom he had recruited and led in Somalia.

“These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies,” Trump wrote. He further detailed that the airstrikes successfully obliterated the caves where these operatives were taking refuge, eliminating a significant number of ISIS fighters. Trump also underscored that the strikes were carefully executed to ensure that no civilians were harmed in the process.

On Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the recent airstrikes on ISIS operatives in Somalia were conducted by U.S. Africa Command under the direction of President Donald Trump. The strikes were carried out in coordination with Somalia’s government to ensure effective targeting of the terrorist group.

Hegseth stated that initial assessments indicated that multiple ISIS operatives were killed in the attack, with no civilian casualties reported. He added that the operation was part of a broader effort to weaken ISIS’s capabilities, emphasizing that it hindered the group’s ability to plan and carry out terrorist attacks threatening both U.S. citizens and allies. The strike, according to Hegseth, also sent a strong message that the U.S. is committed to finding and eliminating terrorists who pose a threat, even while continuing to focus on border protection and other operations under Trump’s leadership.

Trump did not provide specific details about the identity of the ISIS planner targeted in the strikes or whether the individual was killed during the operation.

The Pentagon’s counterterrorism strategy in Africa has faced challenges, particularly after two key U.S. allies, Chad and Niger, expelled U.S. forces last year. Both countries took control of important military bases previously used by the U.S. for training missions and operations against terrorist groups in the Sahel, a region south of the Sahara Desert.

In addition to these logistical setbacks, U.S. military officials have expressed concern over the increasing influence of ISIS in the region. They have warned that ISIS cells, particularly those based in northern Somalia, have received heightened guidance from the group’s leadership. This has included instructions on how to carry out kidnappings for ransom, improve military tactics, evade drone surveillance, and even construct small drones for tactical use. These developments highlight the growing threat posed by ISIS in Africa, which continues to evolve and adapt its operations across the continent.

In May of last year, a U.S. military airstrike in Somalia targeted ISIS militants and resulted in the deaths of three individuals, according to a statement from U.S. Africa Command. The strike was part of ongoing efforts to counter ISIS’s presence in the country, which remains a significant concern.

The number of ISIS militants in Somalia is estimated to be in the hundreds, with most of them scattered across the rugged terrain of the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland’s Bari region. This information comes from the International Crisis Group, which monitors conflict in the region.

This recent operation in Somalia follows another military strike in Syria on January 30. The U.S. Central Command reported that the airstrike killed a senior operative from Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate operating in northwest Syria. The strike is part of broader U.S. counterterrorism efforts targeting various militant groups across the Middle East and Africa.