Trump Orders Precision Airstrikes on ISIS Leaders in Somalia.

Trump Orders Precision Airstrikes on ISIS Leaders in Somalia.

Trump Orders Precision Airstrikes on ISIS Leaders in Somalia.

In a decisive move against terrorism, President Donald Trump announced on February 1, 2025, that he had ordered precision military airstrikes targeting senior ISIS leaders in Somalia. This operation marks the first airstrike in Somalia during Trump’s second term and aims to degrade ISIS’s ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks.

The airstrikes were coordinated with the Somali government and directed by U.S. Africa Command. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the initial assessment indicates that multiple ISIS operatives were killed, and no civilians were harmed. The targeted individuals were found hiding in caves, which were destroyed in the strikes.

President Trump emphasized the importance of this operation in a post on Truth Social, stating, “These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.” He further added that this action sends a clear message to ISIS and other terrorist groups that the United States is always ready to find and eliminate those who threaten its citizens and allies.

The Pentagon’s counterterrorism strategy in Africa has faced challenges, particularly after key partners Chad and Niger ousted U.S. forces last year. Despite these setbacks, the U.S. military continues to target ISIS cells, which have received increasing direction from the group’s leadership in northern Somalia. These cells have been involved in various activities, including kidnapping Westerners for ransom and learning better military tactics.

The number of ISIS militants in Somalia is estimated to be in the hundreds, mostly scattered in the Cal Miskaat mountains in Puntland’s Bari region. The group funds its activities through extortion, smuggling, and illicit taxation. While its influence is relatively limited compared to Al-Shabaab, ISIS in Somalia has been involved in attacks in southern and central regions.

This recent operation follows military airstrikes on January 30 in northwest Syria, which targeted a senior operative in Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate. The U.S. military’s continued efforts to combat terrorism highlight the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and other extremist groups.

As the situation in Somalia evolves, the international community will closely monitor the impact of these airstrikes on ISIS’s capabilities and the broader fight against terrorism. The successful execution of this operation underscores the United State’s commitment to protecting its citizens and allies from terrorist threats.

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