The United States has dramatically escalated its air campaign against Islamic militants in Somalia, more than doubling the pace of strikes compared to 2024 and marking the 100th airstrike of the year in late November.
U.S. Africa Command carried out its 100th airstrike on November 22, 2025, targeting Islamic State militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains in northern Somalia. The milestone represents one of the most aggressive American military operations worldwide and far exceeds any previous year of strikes in the country.
Record-Breaking Tempo
By May 2025, AFRICOM had already conducted more than 25 airstrikes in Somalia—double the number carried out during the same period in 2024, according to Gen. Michael E. Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command.
“The U.S. is actively pursuing and eliminating jihadists,” Langley told reporters in May.
The 100 strikes in 2025 put the campaign on pace to potentially double the previous single-year record of 63 strikes carried out in 2019. The operations now occur at a faster pace than the Pentagon’s campaign against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea.
Largest Maritime Strike in Navy History
The escalation included a historic operation on February 1, 2025, when the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman launched 27 F/A-18 Super Hornets in what a defense official confirmed was the largest maritime strike in Navy aviation history by bomb tonnage.
Sixteen aircraft dropped 124,000 pounds of ordnance on targets in less than two minutes during the coordinated strike against Islamic State operatives in Somalia.
“The joint airstrikes targeted senior ISIS-Somalia leadership in a series of cave complexes approximately 50 miles southeast of Bosaso,” U.S. Africa Command said in a statement. “The command’s current assessment is that approximately 14 ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed and no civilians were harmed.”
Among those killed was Ahmed Maeleninine, an ISIS recruiter and operations leader who led efforts to deploy jihadists into the United States and Europe.
The February strike was unique because it was conducted by a single air wing. Past large-scale U.S. airstrikes, like those during Operation Desert Storm, involved multiple aircraft carriers and air wings flying joint missions.
Why the Surge?
The expanding air campaign reflects both the persistent threat from Islamic militants and policy changes under the Trump administration that give commanders more authority to conduct attacks without first securing White House approval.
The uptick in airstrikes coincides with a January 2025 directive by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth granting more decision-making authority on airstrikes to AFRICOM commanders.
Growing ISIS Presence
While al-Shabab—an Islamic militant group aligned with al-Qaida—remains the largest terrorist organization in Somalia, strikes against ISIS have surged throughout 2025.
ISIS-Somalia was formed in 2015 by defectors from al-Shabab. In 2019, the group had an estimated 300 fighters. By May 2025, that number had grown to approximately 1,500 fighters, with roughly 60% being foreign, according to AFRICOM assessments.
“ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. and partner forces,” AFRICOM said in an April release. “This group’s malicious efforts threaten U.S. national security interests.”
Operations and Civilian Protection
The strikes have supported ground operations by Somali government forces against both ISIS and al-Shabaab. AFRICOM has issued 27 press releases announcing airstrikes in Somalia in 2025, 10 of which indicate multiple strikes occurred on a given day.
The command’s public statements frequently note that militants have been killed while emphasizing efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
“U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian harm,” the organization said in a February statement. “Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.”
U.S. military personnel in Somalia provide training and advising to local ground forces as the country’s central government attempts to combat al-Shabab and ISIS. American forces coordinate airstrikes with the Somali government as part of what AFRICOM describes as collective self-defense operations.
The operations have involved American drones and Navy aircraft throughout the year, targeting militant leadership, training camps, and weapons shipments destined for terrorist groups.
