Trump Orders Airstrikes in Somalia, Targeting Senior ISIS Operatives
Former President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he authorized military airstrikes in Somalia, targeting a senior ISIS attack planner and several operatives recruited by the militant group. The strikes were carried out in the Golis Mountains and were aimed at eliminating individuals who, according to Trump, posed a direct threat to the United States and its allies.
The airstrikes come just weeks after an ISIS-inspired terrorist drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's Eve revelers in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. Trump referenced the attack in his statement, saying these strikes were necessary to prevent further threats. He claimed the terrorists were hiding in caves and insisted that no civilians were harmed.
Trump criticized the Biden administration, accusing it of failing to act against ISIS. He stated that the military had been tracking the ISIS attack planner for years but that Biden and his officials had not moved quickly enough to neutralize the threat. Trump declared that under his leadership, the message to ISIS and other terrorist groups was clear: “WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth provided more details, confirming that the strikes were conducted by U.S. Africa Command in coordination with the Somali government. He stated that multiple ISIS operatives were killed in the operation and emphasized that no civilians were harmed. Hegseth added that these actions further weaken ISIS’s ability to plan and carry out attacks against the U.S. and its allies.
A Somali government official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed the strikes and expressed support for the U.S. intervention. The official stated that Somalia cannot be a safe haven for terrorists and that the government welcomed efforts to eliminate extremist threats. The full impact of the operation was still being assessed.
The U.S. has carried out periodic airstrikes in Somalia under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Last year, a joint operation between the U.S. and Somali forces targeted Islamic State militants and resulted in the deaths of three ISIS members. The latest strikes highlight the ongoing U.S. commitment to counterterrorism efforts and maintaining security in the region.
