US President Donald Trump has announced that he ordered airstrikes on the Islamic State group in Somalia. The airstrikes targeted a senior attack planner and other IS members who were hiding in caves. Trump said the strikes were successful and killed many terrorists without harming any civilians.
The airstrikes were carried out in the Golis mountains in north-east Somalia. The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the strikes “further degrade” the ability of IS to plot and conduct terrorist attacks. He also said that the strikes sent a clear signal that the US is always ready to find and eliminate terrorists.
The Somali branch of IS was formed in 2015 by a group of defectors from the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabab group. IS in Somalia is known for extorting locals and carrying out small-scale sporadic attacks.
The US has been involved in Somalia for decades and has invested heavily in the country to contain the threat posed by al-Shabab. Trump’s decision to order airstrikes in Somalia is seen as a significant move as it comes less than two weeks after his return to office.
It is not clear what prompted Trump to order the airstrikes but it is likely that the US is trying to send a message to IS and other terrorist groups that it will not tolerate their activities. The airstrikes are also seen as a way for the US to maintain its presence in Somalia and to continue its efforts to contain the threat posed by al-Shabab.
Trump’s decision to order airstrikes in Somalia has raised questions about his administration’s policy towards Africa. During his first term Trump pulled hundreds of US troops out of Somalia but he has now ordered airstrikes in the country. It is not clear what Trump’s long-term plan for Somalia is but it is likely that the US will continue to maintain a presence in the country.
