U.S. Military Intensifies Airstrikes Against ISIS and al-Qaida-Linked Militants in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United States has stepped up its air campaign in Somalia at a striking pace, carrying out nearly 50 strikes in just the first three months of 2026, according to U.S. Africa Command, a sign of expanding pressure on militant groups in the Horn of Africa.

In its latest statement, AFRICOM said the most recent strike hit Al-Shabaab fighters roughly 80 miles northwest of Kismayo, pushing the year’s total to 49 airstrikes.

The command said the operations were carried out in close coordination with the Somali federal government and local security forces as part of efforts to erode Al-Shabaab’s battlefield capacity. It did not disclose details about the aircraft, units, or weapons involved, citing operational security.

The pace marks an escalation after a record 2025, when AFRICOM conducted about 125 strikes, topping the previous high of 63 set in 2019. If the current tempo continues, 2026 could end well above those levels.

U.S. air operations are unfolding on more than one front. In northeastern Somalia, especially the Al-Miskaad Mountains in Puntland State, fighters associated with the Islamic State are routinely targeted. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab continues to operate across large stretches of southern and central Somalia.

American forces have maintained a long-running role in Somalia, offering training, advice, and intelligence support to local troops fighting extremist networks. The latest surge follows a military decision. The military said the strikes were conducted in close coordination with the Somali federal government and local security forcese Hegseth granted AFRICOM commanders broader authority to determine when to conduct air operations.

The intensified campaign highlights Washington’s view of Somalia as a critical theater in the fight against jihadist groups, even as it may revive questions about the broader impact of such operations on security and U.S. policy in the region.

AXADLETM