United States President Donald Trump announced the military action late Saturday, stating that he had ordered "precision military air strikes on a senior ISIL attack planner and other terrorists" in Somalia.
Trump said the operation "destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians." Trump, who assumed office barely a month ago for a second non-consecutive term, also took a swipe at his predecessor, Joe Biden, accusing him of delaying action against the ISIL operative.
The strikes targeted ISIL strongholds in northern Somalia, where Puntland Security Forces (PSF) have been conducting counterterrorism operations since December. The mountainous terrain has served as a refuge for the group, which, while smaller than the dominant al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab, has been increasing its activities in the region.
"Recent air strikes have led to the neutralization of key figures within ISIS, marking a significant advancement as we progress into the second phase of our operation," the Puntland administration stated on Sunday.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was a critical step in dismantling ISIL's ability to coordinate attacks that threaten American citizens and global security.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed his appreciation for US support, posting on X that Washington's counterterrorism efforts were 'highly valued and welcomed in Somalia.'
Puntland's Information Minister, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, confirmed that the airstrikes specifically hit ISIL bases in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, a segment of the Golis range. However, he noted that the number of casualties remained uncertain due to the nighttime operation.
Despite sustained pressure from Somali forces, US air raids, and al-Shabab rivalries, ISIL continues to operate in remote and urban areas, leveraging extortion, smuggling, and illicit taxation to fund its activities.
The International Crisis Group estimates the group's fighters in Somalia to be in the hundreds, primarily scattered across the rugged Cal Miskaad Mountains.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
