[Discussion] U.S. Launches First Airstrikes of Trump's Second Term Against ISIS in Somalia

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U.S. Military Executes Airstrikes Against Islamic State in Somalia

The U.S. military recently orchestrated airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia. Initiated during President Donald Trump's second term, these strikes are the first in the African Nation.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Saturday that these strikes, carried out by U.S. Africa Command, were instructed by Trump and coordinated with the Somali government. The Pentagon’s initial assessment indicates a successful operation with “multiple” operatives eliminated and no civilian casualties reported.

President Trump took to social media revealing that the operation targeted a senior IS planner and recruits. However, the White House hasn’t clarified whether the mentioned IS planner was killed in the strike or revealed his identity.

Somalia’s Reaction and the Importance of the Strikes

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia's president, praised the operation, portraying it as a reinforcement of the “strong security partnership” between the U.S. and Somalia against “extremist threats.” The President of Somalia commended their ally's assistance in their collective terror elimination and regional stability efforts.

The operation consisted of several airstrikes launched in northern Somalia. These are targeting the Islamic State's branch in the African nation. Currently, this is the largest announced military operation of Trump's second term.

The attacks, which occurred as specified within the Gholis mountain range in Somalia’s Puntland state, were successful in eliminating “multiple” ISIS operatives, according to AFRICOM.

Details of the Military Operation in Somalia

While specifics about the military assets used in the operation remain undisclosed, released AFRICOM imagery features Carrier Air Wing 1 in the USS Harry S. Truman. The Truman Carrier Strike Group has been in action for several weeks in the Red Sea, Yemen, and Somalia waters countering the Houthi movement in Yemen.

AFRICOM reported no civilian casualties, however, further specific details of the operation remain undisclosed. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed the airstrikes and his awareness of the operation relayed by the United States.

The U.S. military operation in Somalia trails an airstrike executed in northwest Syria on Jan. 30. This earlier operation successfully eliminated a leader of the al-Qaeda affiliate group Hurras-al-Din, marking the first announced military action under Trump’s administration.

During his previous term, President Trump directed numerous drone strikes, airstrikes, and special operations missions inside Somalia — a total of 219 operations.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Statement

In a statement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the successful U.S. Africa Command strikes in Somalia. Directed by Trump and coordinated with the Somali Federal Government, the coordinated airstrikes did target ISIS-Somalia operatives in the Golis mountains. The Secretary asserted that these actions degrade ISIS's ability to plot and carry out terrorist attacks, thus protecting U.S. citizens, their partners, and innocent civilians.

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