WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States military conducted an airstrike against ISIS targets in Somalia on Saturday, utilizing manned fighter jets rather than drones, according to three U.S. officials who spoke with the media.
President Donald Trump Confirms Attack
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike, stating that no civilians were harmed. While details on the target were not released, Trump referred to the strike as an operation against a “Senior ISIS Attack Planner.”
Hegseth emphasized that the airstrikes were ordered by President Trump and carried out in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.
Not a Drone Strike—U.S. Fighter Jets Involved
Unlike previous operations using drones, this mission involved fighter aircraft from the USS Harry S. Truman, currently deployed in the Red Sea, as well as U.S. Air Force fighter jets, officials confirmed.
The airstrikes were offensive in nature, specifically targeting ISIS forces, a notable shift from past U.S. military operations in Somalia, which have primarily focused on defensive drone strikes against al Shabaab militants in support of Somali troops.
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U.S. Sends a Message to ISIS
Hegseth stated that the airstrikes further degrade ISIS’s ability to conduct terrorist attacks and serve as a warning to extremists worldwide.
“This action further degrades ISIS’s ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks threatening U.S. citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians,” Hegseth said. “It sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies.”
The Pentagon has yet to release additional details, but the strike underscores America’s ongoing military operations against ISIS in Africa.
