Trump has stated that he authorized air strikes against the Islamic State group in Somalia

vesnaWorld News

Donald Trump announced that he authorized military airstrikes targeting a senior attack planner and other members of the Islamic State (IS) group in Somalia.

“These individuals, who were discovered hiding in caves, posed a threat to the United States and our allies,” Trump stated on social media.

“The airstrikes obliterated their hideouts and resulted in the deaths of numerous terrorists, all while ensuring the safety of civilians.”

In a statement on X, the office of the Somali president confirmed they had been notified of the U.S. operation aimed at high-ranking IS figures in the northern region of the country.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify the reports regarding casualties.

Trump did not disclose the identities of those targeted in the strikes.

He concluded his post with a strong message: “The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!'”

This photo provided by U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. military conducts coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (U.S. Africa Command via AP)

In a statement on X, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia expressed his appreciation for the steadfast support of the United States in the battle against international terrorism and welcomed the ongoing commitment under President Donald Trump’s decisive leadership.

The statement also highlighted that the recent operation “strengthens the robust security partnership between Somalia and the United States in addressing extremist threats.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked that “our initial assessment indicates that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes, with no civilian casualties reported.”

Hegseth noted that the strikes “further diminish” IS’s capacity “to plan and execute terrorist attacks” and “conveys a clear message that the United States is always prepared to locate and eliminate terrorists.”

He specified that the airstrikes took place in the Golis mountains of northeastern Somalia.

The Puntland government, a region in northeastern Somalia, expressed gratitude to “international allies” who contributed to the airstrikes that “eliminated high-ranking members” of IS.

IS gained international notoriety in the 2010s, particularly in Syria and Iraq, but its influence is now largely confined to certain areas in Africa.