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US Airstrike Kills 16 Islamic State Militants in Somalia
U.S. airstrikes on Sunday killed 16 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in northern Somalia, according to Somali officials. Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesperson for security operations in Puntland, confirmed the death toll in an interview with VOA’s Somali Service.
The airstrikes, carried out by international partners including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, targeted two key villages in the Cal Miskaad mountain range of Puntland's Bari region—Godka Kunle and Xankookin. Among the dead were two senior militants identified as bomb-makers, and a bomb factory was destroyed in the strike.
“Local officials are working to confirm the identities and nationalities of the bomb-makers,” Ahmed said, adding that the militants attempted to retaliate by launching drone attacks on Puntland security forces' bases in the area. However, Puntland forces managed to shoot down five of the seven drones, while two others exploded, causing damage.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation, stating it had killed two terrorists in the airstrike and reported no civilian casualties. AFRICOM added that it would continue to assess the results and provide updates.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised the airstrikes in a statement, highlighting the strong partnership between Somalia and the U.S. in combating terrorism. This marks the second U.S. military operation in Somalia this month. On February 1, a similar strike killed 14 ISIS operatives, including a key recruiter and financier, in Puntland’s Golis Mountains.
Puntland authorities have been intensifying their military offensive against extremist groups in the region, claiming to have killed over 200 ISIS militants, including foreign fighters, and retaken several key positions held by the group in the mountainous areas.