US strikes in Somalia killed ‘key’ ISIL figures, says regional authorities
The strikes have been carried out in north Somalia, the place the Puntland Safety Forces is finishing up operations towards ISIL since December.
The federal government of Somalia’s semiautonomous Puntland area says army strikes by the USA within the Golis Mountains killed “key figures” of the ISIL (ISIS) group.
US President Donald Trump late on Saturday mentioned he ordered “precision army air strikes on a senior ISIL assault planner and different terrorists” in Somalia.
ISIL has a comparatively small presence in Somalia in contrast with al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab, however specialists have warned of rising exercise.
The strikes have been carried out in a northern area of Somalia, the place the Puntland Safety Forces (PSF) have been finishing up operations towards ISIL since December. The armed group is claimed to have established a presence within the Golis Mountains.
“Latest air strikes have led to the neutralisation of key figures inside ISIS, marking a major development as we progress into the second part of our operation,” the regional authorities mentioned on Sunday.
Trump posted on the Reality Social platform that the US strikes “destroyed the caves they stay in, and killed many terrorists with out, in any approach, harming civilians”.
“Our Army has focused this ISIS Assault Planner for years, however Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act shortly sufficient to get the job accomplished. I did,” Trump posted, attacking his predecessor, Joe Biden.
US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned in a press release the motion “additional degrades ISIS’s capability to plot and conduct terrorist assaults threatening US residents, our companions, and harmless civilian”.
In a publish on X, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed gratitude for “the unwavering assist of the USA in our shared battle towards terrorism”.
“Your daring and decisive management, Mr. President, in counterterrorism efforts is very valued and welcomed in Somalia,” Mohamud posted.
https://t.co/kwqCitTQ9m pic.twitter.com/YMUtfSEk38
— Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (@HassanSMohamud) February 1, 2025
The knowledge minister for Puntland state in northern Somalia additionally confirmed the assault, saying it struck ISIL bases within the Cal Miskaad Mountains, a part of the Golis vary.
“The variety of casualties remains to be unknown because it was darkish. However our forces on the frontline may hear the sound of explosions,” Mohamud Aidid Dirir instructed the Reuters information company.
Whereas its affect is comparatively restricted in contrast with al-Shabab, ISIL has been concerned in assaults in southern and central Somalia. The group funds its actions by way of extortion, smuggling and illicit taxation, significantly in some coastal areas the place it has tried to regulate native companies.
Regardless of dealing with counterterrorism strain from Somali safety forces, US air raids and al-Shabab rivalries, ISIL in Somalia continues to function in each distant and concrete areas, in search of to increase its affect by way of recruitment and propaganda.
The variety of ISIL fighters within the nation is estimated to be within the a whole bunch, largely scattered within the Cal Miskaad Mountains, in accordance with the Worldwide Disaster Group.
