US defends increased Somalia airstrikes as ‘critical support’ backing ISIS pressure in Puntland State
Thursday, February 5, 2026
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The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has defended a rise in airstrikes in Somalia, calling them “critical support” that has helped Somali partner forces weaken ISIS-linked militants and hold strategic ground in the country’s northeast.
In a digital press briefing, AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson said the operations are coordinated with Somali forces and designed to deliver capabilities local troops do not yet field independently, including intelligence, surveillance, and precision targeting.
Anderson cited Puntland State’s Golis Mountains as a case study in how U.S. air power has underpinned Somali advances. Somali partner forces, backed by U.S. assistance, mounted an offensive against ISIS elements entrenched in the rugged mountain terrain, he said, sharply constraining the group’s operational space.
“These strikes have allowed them to stay engaged, shrink the territory held by ISIS, and, most importantly, maintain pressure in the Golis Mountains,” Anderson said, relaying feedback from Somali partners. He added that sustained pressure has pushed ISIS leadership into hiding and limited its ability to organize and move openly.
While the air campaign has drawn attention, AFRICOM officials stressed it is only one part of a broader security cooperation effort in Somalia. Sergeant Major Garric M. Banfield, AFRICOM’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader, highlighted ongoing work to strengthen maritime domain awareness along the Somali coast.
“This includes technical support to help Somali authorities monitor their waters and counter threats such as arms smuggling, piracy, and illegal fishing,” Banfield said. “The goal is to improve security capabilities to protect shorelines and borders.”
AFRICOM leaders linked maritime security to wider regional stability in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, where smuggling networks can enable armed groups inside Somalia. They framed the Somalia mission as part of a larger continental fight against extremist organizations, including al-Shabaab and ISIS affiliates.
Anderson underscored that U.S. forces are not replacing Somalia’s military. “Somali troops conduct ground operations, while the U.S. provides intelligence, training, logistical support, and targeted airstrikes when necessary,” he said. Officials described the approach as a partnership model that helps Somali units keep momentum against militants while building capacity for long-term stability.
Throughout the briefing, AFRICOM’s leadership tied security gains to broader economic and governance outcomes, arguing that tactical progress must translate to durable peace. “Security leads to stability, and that stability creates opportunities,” Anderson said, adding that cooperation with African partners remains central to AFRICOM’s strategy.
AFRICOM did not specify timelines or future strike volumes but maintained that operations are driven by partner needs and the goal of denying militants safe haven. The command said it would continue integrating air support with training, logistics, and maritime initiatives as Somali forces press their campaigns in the northeast and beyond.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
