Saturday July 11, 2026
Kismayo (AX) — U.S. Africa Command reports it carried out an airstrike against al-Shabab targets in Somalia’s Jubbaland region on July 8, a move officials said aims to disrupt the insurgent group’s operations.
AFRICOM said the strike occurred roughly 90 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, the port city that has long been a flashpoint in the fight against the militant network.
“AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and our citizens abroad,” the command said in a statement.
The command declined to identify the specific units or platforms involved, citing operational security.
No immediate casualty figures were released by AFRICOM following the strike.
Somalia has endured prolonged instability, and al-Shabab remains a principal security challenge to the federal government and Somali forces.
The al-Qaida-linked group has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s government and international partners since at least 2007.
