The United States military conducted airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Somalia on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced.
"This morning, I ordered precision military airstrikes on the senior ISIS attack planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia," Trump said on Truth Social.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes targeted IS-Somalia operatives in the Golis mountains in the semi-autonomous Puntland region.
"Our initial assessment is that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes, and no civilians were harmed," Hegseth said in a statement.
"This action further degrades ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks that threaten U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians, and sends a clear message that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the U.S. and our allies."
The Islamic State has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, but experts have warned of increasing activity.
"The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is: 'WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!'" Trump said in his post.
with AFP
Comments