The U.S. intensified airstrikes in Somalia in January, targeting al-Shabaab and the ISIS-Somalia affiliate, AFRICOM said. Operations included strikes in Puntland’s Golis Mountains, near Buur Heybo and coordinated actions with Somali authorities. AFRICOM framed the campaign as part of broader efforts to reduce threats to the U.S. homeland; independent monitors note an overall uptick in strikes since early 2025. Casualty figures have not been released.
U.S. Intensifies Air Campaign in Somalia Targeting al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia, AFRICOM Says
US launches wave of strikes in Somalia targeting ISIS, al-Shabab terror threats
The U.S. stepped up airstrikes in Somalia in January, targeting the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab and the local Islamic State affiliate known as ISIS-Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a Jan. 12 release.
AFRICOM reported that U.S. forces, working alongside the Somali federal government, conducted strikes against al-Shabaab militants on Jan. 12. The command said these operations form part of ongoing efforts to "degrade the group’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, U.S. forces and Americans overseas." No casualty figures were released.
Separate strikes against ISIS-Somalia were reported on Jan. 9 and Jan. 11 in northern Somalia, including operations in the Golis Mountains region of Puntland, southeast of Bosaso. Additional strikes targeting al-Shabaab occurred on Jan. 8 near Buur Heybo, about 154 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu. AFRICOM also said strikes conducted during the evening of Jan. 3–4 were carried out "in coordination with Somali authorities."
Larger Campaign and Recent Trends
AFRICOM described the January actions as part of a broader campaign conducted with Somali partners. According to AFRICOM, between Feb. 1—when the U.S. conducted its first strike in Somalia under the current administration in 2025—and June 10, U.S. forces carried out 38 airstrikes against al-Shabaab and Islamic State elements in Somalia, with additional strikes reported since June 10.
Independent monitoring organizations and the Combating Terrorism Center have documented an uptick in U.S. strikes in Somalia following President Donald Trump’s return to office in 2024. In April 2025 testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, AFRICOM Commander Gen. Michael E. Langley warned that jihadi groups’ expansion in Africa could pose a threat to the U.S. homeland.
"We are acutely aware that if ISIS and al Qaeda groups continue their expansion, they will pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland," Gen. Michael E. Langley said. "Given this environment, U.S. AFRICOM will work collaboratively with the intelligence community and inter-agency partners to keep the risk to U.S. national security interests low."
Local Context
Al-Shabaab has been fighting Somalia’s federal government since 2007 and still controls territory in parts of south-central Somalia. ISIS-Somalia is a smaller faction concentrated largely in Puntland’s mountainous northeast, where it competes with al-Shabaab for influence.
According to the U.S.-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Somalia’s conflict with armed groups was the third-deadliest in Africa through 2024, with an estimated 7,289 people killed. Fox News Digital has reached out to AFRICOM for further comment.
Help us improve.
