Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, has confirmed the conclusion of a two-week operation in Puntland targeting ISIS-Somalia on Monday.
AFRICOM said the campaign, which ended on August 23, 2025, involved “targeted strikes against ISIS leadership safe havens in the Golis Mountains.” The command did not release casualty figures or damage assessments, citing operational security.
“These lethal strikes demonstrate our resolve and commitment to ensuring Americans and our partners remain safe from the threat of global terrorism,” said Gen. Dagvin Anderson, AFRICOM’s commander. “I congratulate our military and civilian teammates, as well as our partners in Somalia, who worked every aspect of this complex evolution. They set the standard for executing a well-planned, cross-Combatant Command operation against an organization that wishes to export their terror to the U.S. and our allies.”
The Golis Mountains have long been identified as a base for ISIS-Somalia. Although smaller in number compared to Al-Shabaab, the group continues to carry out targeted assassinations and attacks in Puntland.
AFRICOM added that it “will continue to assess the results of the operation in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces.”
The strikes come as heavy fighting has continued in the Mountains of Puntland since late 2024, where ISIS-Somalia maintains a presence
