Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – An estimated 500 U.S. troops are still stationed inside Somalia, directly participating in the fight against the Al-Shabaab and ISIS groups, although details about these operations remain very limited.
U.S. forces work alongside the Somali Federal Government’s security forces, carrying out special operations, providing military advice, and conducting airstrikes.
However, the United States does not regularly disclose information about casualties, targets, or the actual impact of its operations, raising questions about the level of transparency surrounding military activities in Somalia.
A report published by Fox News indicated that Somalia is among the locations where the United States is waging one of its quietest wars, as information about airstrikes and operations against Al-Shabaab and ISIS is often released only after the fact or not disclosed at all.
The U.S. presence in Somalia began in the 1990s but intensified after 2017, when the United States increased airstrikes and deployed special forces to support the fight against terrorist groups. Although most U.S. troops were ordered to withdraw in 2020, hundreds of soldiers were redeployed in 2022.
In early 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Africa, particularly Somalia, remains an important battleground, though the United States is reviewing its military presence.
As the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS continues, the lack of official information regarding casualties and the outcomes of U.S. operations continues to fuel debate over transparency and accountability in military operations in Somalia.