BOSASO (Kaab TV) – U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia on Saturday, killing “multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives” in a remote part of northeastern Somalia, AFRICOM said.
“The command’s initial assessment is that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed in the airstrikes and no civilians were harmed,” AFRICOM stated in a press release.
The airstrikes targeted the remote mountains of the Bari region, where Puntland state security forces have been clashing with ISIS militants since December.
The conflict began after the regional government launched an all-out offensive against the group, which had been establishing bases in the mountainous areas.
AFRICOM indicated it would continue to evaluate the results of the operation and provide further details as necessary.
“Specific details about the operation will not be released in order to ensure continued operational security,” the statement added.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump, while at his Mar-a-Lago resort, confirmed the order for precision military airstrikes against the senior ISIS attack planner and other terrorists he had recruited and led in Somalia.
“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,” Trump posted on X.
Trump also sent a strong message to ISIS: “The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!’”
Meanwhile, regional authorities in Puntland expressed their appreciation for the involvement of the U.S. and UAE in the airstrikes targeting the militants.
While Puntland refrains from aligning with the Mogadishu government, they thanked Kenya and Ethiopia for their “invaluable support” in the fight against ISIS, while also praising their collaboration with the U.S. and UAE.