AFRICOM confirms 100+ Somalia airstrikes in 2025
U.S. Africa Command said Friday it has conducted more than 100 airstrikes in Somalia so far this year, up from 10 in 2024, including a strike Tuesday about 66 km southeast of Bossaso in Puntland. AFRICOM said 59 strikes targeted ISIS‑Somalia and emphasized operations were coordinated with Somalia’s federal government; the command denied reports that U.S. troops conducted ground operations during the latest action, while local sources reported up to 10 militants killed and a senior figure possibly hit.
📌 Key Facts
- AFRICOM: 101 Somalia airstrikes in 2025 vs. 10 in 2024
- Latest strike Tuesday ~66 km SE of Bossaso; 59 strikes targeted ISIS‑Somalia
- AFRICOM denies U.S. ground operations; no U.S. casualties reported
📊 Relevant Data
Al-Shabaab has an estimated 7,000 to 12,000 fighters concentrated in central and southern Somalia.
The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment — Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
ISIS-Somalia has an estimated 600 to 800 fighters, many of them foreign veterans from the Middle East.
Puntland, US forces intensify anti-ISIS campaign as Egypt joins AU mission in Somalia — Hiiraan Online
Al-Shabaab generates an estimated annual revenue of roughly $100 million from extortion, illicit taxation, and trade in commodities like charcoal and sugar.
The Somali National Army Versus al-Shabaab: A Net Assessment — Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Since 2007, US airstrikes in Somalia have resulted in 92 to 167 locally reported civilian deaths.
U.S. Forces in Somalia — Airwars
ISIS-Somalia serves as a key administrative and financial hub for the Islamic State, including through its al-Karrar office.
Puntland, US forces intensify anti-ISIS campaign as Egypt joins AU mission in Somalia — Hiiraan Online