President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he ordered “precision military airstrikes” in Somalia targeting a senior Islamic State (ISIS) member and his recruits, saying there were no known civilian casualties.
Why It Matters
Saturday’s airstrikes were the first publicly announced strikes in Africa ordered by Trump since returning to office on January 20, and the first under newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted strikes in Syria on January 30, but they were not publicly attributed to Trump’s order.
The Pentagon reports that “multiple” operatives were killed.
What To Know
Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, early Saturday afternoon that he ordered the strikes on a “senior ISIS attack planner” and his recruits in Somalia, who he says the U.S. has targeted for years. He did not identify the individuals involved.
“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,” he wrote.
He concluded his post: “The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!’”
Hegseth released a statement on Saturday confirming strikes in the Golis mountains in Somalia, with U.S. Africa Command and the Federal Government of Somalia coordinating the strikes.
The defense secretary said the department’s “initial assessment is that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes and no civilians were harmed.”
U.S. Africa Command noted in their Saturday press release the unit “takes great measures to prevent civilian harm. Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.”
It also noted that “specific details about the operation will not be released in order to ensure continued operations security.”
Newsweek filed an online press contact form to get comment from U.S. Africa Command on Saturday.
The Islamic State in Somalia has previously been targeted by U.S. strikes, including one last May that killed three ISIS militants. The Somali affiliate “has emerged as a key component of the Islamic State’s network, in large part because it can raise substantial revenue, largely through extortion,” according to the International Crisis Group, which is independent, nonprofit, non-governmental organization committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.
Hegseth said the action “further degrades ISIS’s ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians and sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies.”
What People Are Saying
The official X, formerly Twitter, account of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s office, posted: “President Hassan was informed of the U.S. strike targeting senior ISIS leadership in northern Somalia this evening. He acknowledges the unwavering support of the United States in the fight against international terrorism and welcomes the continued commitment under the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump.
It continued: “This latest operation reinforces the strong security partnership between Somalia and the United States in combating extremist threats. Somalia remains resolute in working with its allies to eliminate international terrorism and ensure regional stability.”
Tim Shorrock, a writer with over 31,000 followers on X, wrote about Trump: “‘Mr ‘No War In My Administration’ just launched US air strikes in Somalia.”
Former GOP Representative Justin Amash of Michigan wrote on X Saturday: “Congress hasn’t authorized war in Somalia—even against ISIS. The separation of powers exists to protect both the liberty and safety of Americans. Offensive missile strikes are acts of war and can’t be justified without the express approval of Congress for the specific conflict.”
Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote in a Saturday X post: “Today’s strikes by President Trump and our military make America safer. This is what real leadership looks like.”
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