US carried out nearly 50 strikes in Somalia so far this year
U.S. forces have carried out 49 airstrikes in Somalia so far in 2026, a pace that puts this year on track to rival or exceed last year’s operations against Islamic militant groups.
The attacks, conducted in coordination with the Somali government, come after U.S. Africa Command carried out 124 strikes in 2025, a dramatic jump from just 10 in 2024, according to an AFRICOM spokesperson.
“Alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Armed Forces, our efforts continue to degrade ISIS and al Shabaab capabilities,” the spokesperson said in a Wednesday statement.
The most recent strike targeted al-Shabaab last week, according to a statement released by the command on Monday. The strike hit around 82 miles northwest of Kismayo, a port city on the country’s southern coast. The command said it would not divulge specific details about units or assets to protect operations in the region.
Al Shabab is an al-Qaeda linked insurgent group that has repeatedly attacked civilians and government forces.
The U.S. carried out 18 strikes in Somalia in 2023 and 16 in 2022.
U.S. forces conducted 49 airstrikes in Somalia in 2026, targeting Islamic militant groups such as ISIS and al-Shabaab. The most recent strike occurred near Kismayo, approximately 82 miles northwest of the city. This year's operations are on track to match or exceed the 124 strikes carried out in 2025, reflecting a significant escalation in military activity against these groups.
- U.S. forces have conducted 49 airstrikes in Somalia in 2026.
- The strikes are aimed at degrading ISIS and al-Shabaab capabilities.
- The most recent strike targeted al-Shabaab near Kismayo.
- U.S. Africa Command conducted 124 strikes in 2025, a significant increase from previous years.