US launches wave of strikes in Somalia targeting ISIS, al-Shabab terror threats

The U.S. stepped up airstrikes successful Somalia successful January, targeting al-Shabab and the section affiliate of the Islamic State group, ISS, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

In a Jan. 12 release, AFRICOM said U.S. forces, moving with the Somali national government, carried retired airstrikes against al-Shabab militants.

AFRICOM said the cognition was portion of ongoing efforts to "degrade the group’s quality to endanger the U.S. homeland, U.S. forces and Americans overseas."

Airstrikes against ISIS—Somalia were besides reported connected Jan. 11 and Jan. 9 successful bluish Somalia, including the Golis Mountains portion of Puntland, southeast of Bosaso. 

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U.S. forces reason an cognition targeting ISIS successful Somalia successful August 2025. (Hannah Kantner/AFRICOM)

Additional airstrikes targeting al-Shabab were reported connected Jan. 8, including 1 successful the vicinity of Buur Heybo, astir 154 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu.

The bid said betwixt the evening of Jan. 3–4, strikes were besides conducted "in coordination with Somali authorities."

AFRICOM said successful a merchandise the strikes were portion of a broader run conducted with Somali partners. No casualty figures were released.

The latest spate of operations comes amid a broader intensification of U.S. airstrikes successful Somalia.

According to accusation released by AFRICOM, betwixt Feb. 1, erstwhile the Trump medication conducted its archetypal onslaught successful Somalia successful 2025, and June 10, the U.S. carried retired 38 airstrikes against al-Shabab and the Islamic State successful Somalia.

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Somalia airstrikes escalate arsenic U.S. forces spouse with Somali authorities against al-Shabab. (TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

AFRICOM has said further strikes person been conducted since June 10.

Independent monitoring organizations person reported a emergence successful strikes since President Donald Trump returned to bureau successful 2024, according to a study by the Combating Terrorism Center.

The study cited an April 2025 connection by AFRICOM commandant Gen. Michael E. Langley earlier the Senate Armed Services Committee, successful which helium referenced the imaginable menace posed by jihadi groups successful Africa to the U.S. homeland.

"We are acutely alert that if ISIS and al Qaeda groups proceed their expansion, they volition airs a nonstop menace to the U.S. homeland," Langley said.

"Given this environment, US AFRICOM volition enactment collaboratively with the quality assemblage and inter-agency partners to support the hazard to U.S. nationalist information interests low," Langley said successful a statement.

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Members of al-Shabab violent rebel radical parade done the streets of Somalia's superior Mogadishu connected Jan. 1, 2010.  (REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

Al-Shabab, an al Qaeda affiliate, has waged warfare connected Somalia’s authorities since 2007 and continues to power territory successful south-central Somalia.

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ISIS-Somalia is simply a smaller faction concentrated mostly successful Puntland’s mountainous northeast, wherever it is besides said to vie with al-Shabab for influence.

According to the U.S.-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Somalia’s struggle with equipped groups was the third-deadliest successful Africa done 2024, sidesplitting an estimated 7,289 people.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to AFRICOM for comment.