The U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Somalia, marking the first such operation under President Donald Trump’s second term. The strikes, which targeted a senior ISIS attack planner and other operatives in the Golis Mountains, were confirmed by the Pentagon on Saturday. Feb. 1.
Trump announces strikes, criticizes Biden
Trump announced the airstrikes in a post on Truth Social, claiming that the militants were “hiding in caves” and had posed a threat to the United States and its allies.
“The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians,” Trump wrote.
He criticized the previous administration, stating, “Our military has targeted this ISIS attack planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done. I did!”
The president concluded his statement with a warning to terrorist organizations: “WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!”
Pentagon confirms multiple ISIS fighters killed
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that multiple ISIS operatives were killed in the attack and that no civilians were harmed.
“This sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” Hegseth said in a statement.
Puntland engaged in Its own anti-ISIS operation
The airstrikes come as Puntland’s regional government continues its military operation against ISIS in northern Somalia. A Puntland official stated that their forces have been in a low-intensity conflict with ISIS-Somalia for nearly a decade and have cleared more than 200 kilometers of territory from jihadist control.
Following the strikes, Puntland officials publicly thanked both the United States and the United Arab Emirates for their military support.
Somali president responds to U.S. airstrikes
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was informed of the U.S. operation and expressed appreciation for America’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
His office released a statement on X, acknowledging the “unwavering support of the United States in the fight against international terrorism” and welcoming continued military cooperation.
Targeting ISIS leader Abdulqadir Mumin
Following the airstrikes, U.S. officials stated that the target included Abdulqadir Mumin, a leader within ISIS-Somalia.
Some reports have suggested that Mumin had quietly risen to a senior leadership role within ISIS’s global network, but experts have expressed doubt that he held such a high-ranking position. It remains unclear whether he was killed in the attack.
Trump’s airstrike strategy in Somalia
Trump has long favored airstrikes over ground troop deployments in Somalia. In 2020, he withdrew U.S. troops from the country, opting instead to rely on targeted airstrikes to combat jihadist organizations.
Just one day before the strikes, Somali President Mohamud urged Trump to keep U.S. military advisers in the country to continue training Somalia’s special forces.
ISIS-Somalia: A persistent threat
ISIS-Somalia, which splintered from al-Shabaab in 2015, is estimated to have between 300 and 700 active fighters, with roughly half being foreign combatants. Despite continuous military pressure from Puntland, the U.S., and Somali forces, the group remains a security threat in the region.
Trump vows continued action against ISIS
Trump has made it clear that his administration will continue taking aggressive action against ISIS and other terrorist groups.
“Our Military is stronger than ever, and we will not hesitate to act,” Trump said in his statement. “Anyone who threatens America will pay the ultimate price.”
