President Donald Trump has ordered military airstrikes in Somalia targeting a senior Islamic State (ISIS) attack planner and other operatives. According to various reports, these strikes were executed in the Golis Mountains in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland early on February 1, 2025.

Trump used his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce that the strikes destroyed the caves where the terrorists were hiding, killing many without harming civilians. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that multiple operatives were killed, and no civilian casualties were reported in the initial assessments.

The operation was coordinated with the Somali government, which expressed gratitude for U.S. support in counterterrorism efforts. Trump’s statement also included criticism of the previous Biden administration for not acting swiftly enough against this ISIS planner, whom he claimed had been targeted by the U.S. military for years.

The strikes are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in the region, with the Islamic State in Somalia being a smaller but notable threat, particularly known for extortion and sporadic attacks. These airstrikes mark the first such operation under Trump’s second term, signaling a continuation of U.S. military engagement against terrorist groups in Somalia, even as the U.S. has had to adjust its strategy following the withdrawal from some African bases due to political changes in Chad and Niger.