By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 12 January 2026 The U.S. military carried out two separate airstrikes in Somalia last week targeting militants from Al-Shabaab and the Somali branch of Islamic State, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Sunday.
The strikes, conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, are part of a continued campaign to degrade the operational capabilities of extremist groups in the Horn of Africa.
The first strike took place on Jan. 8 in the vicinity of Buur Heybo, approximately 154 km (95 miles) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu. AFRICOM identified the target as “Al-Shabaab, that has been fighting for more than 15 years to topple the central government.”
A second strike occurred the following day, Jan. 9, targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Golis Mountains, roughly 33 km southeast of the port city of Bossaso.
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"AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade [the groups'] ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad," the command said in a statement.
AFRICOM did not provide details on the number of militants killed or any potential civilian casualties, citing operational security.
Washington has frequently used drone strikes to support the Somali National Army's efforts against militants, who still control large swathes of rural territory despite being pushed out of major urban centres.
