Trump says he ordered airstrikes on Islamic State in Somalia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he ordered military attacks in Somalia against a top Islamic State attack planner and others from the group.

“These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.”

According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Saturday’s attacks took place in the Golis Mountains, and an initial assessment suggested that numerous agents were killed. He said no people were injured.

Reuters was unable to independently verify these information.

An anonymous official in the Somali president’s office acknowledged the strikes and stated that Somalia’s administration appreciated the move.

“Somalia cannot be a safe haven for terrorists,” said the official, who added that the impact of the attacks was still being determined.

Hegseth stated that the strikes undermine Islamic State’s capacity to “plan and carry out terrorist attacks” that endanger the United States, its allies, and innocent people.

“(It) sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies, even as we conduct robust border protection and many other operations under President Trump’s leadership,” according to his statement.

For years, the United States has conducted airstrikes in Somalia, both under Republican and Democratic governments.

Last year, the United States coordinated with Somalia on an attack that also targeted Islamic State fighters. The US military says it killed three members of the organization.